Matting might contain lead, which raises concerns about health.
Although a grand opening was held last week, officials have yet to allow public access to the new playground at the Children’s Hospital because of concerns that the park’s rubber matting might contain lead.
“We are just being extra, extra safe and cautious,” said Mary Jenkins, spokeswoman for University Hospitals.
The decision to replace the matting came before the May 25 unveiling ceremony when the matting manufacturer informed the hospital that the product was made from recycled plastics that might contain lead, Jenkins said.
Overexposure to lead can damage the brain, kidneys, central nervous system and immune system. Children up to age 6 are at the greatest risk.
The playground, which includes $95,000 of equipment paid for by private donations, was the original dream of Sylvie Carpentier.
When Carpentier’s daughter, Pascale White, was in the hospital being treated for acute lymphoblastic cancer, Carpentier had no place to take her daughter for fresh air.
She created the volunteer organization Pascale’s Pals to give children in the hospital a place to play outside.
Carpentier said she was unaware of the problem until a day ago when she was informed that the park was not open.
“When we dedicated it, we expected that the new surface would be in,” Jenkins said.
The surface is called Play Matta and is manufactured in New Zealand by Matta Products Ltd. It was selected for its ability to absorb a child’s fall, as well as for the even surface that’s wheelchair accessible.
Managing director of Matta Products, Paul Harris, said his company volunteered to replace the product in an effort to be responsible and take the concerns of the local people seriously.
“We believe our product is safe,” Harris said. “We are not outside any (lead) regulations.”
University Hospital decided it was best to postpone opening the park until after the re-installment, Jenkins said, which should happen in mid-June.
Matta Products is paying for the removal and replacement of the mat, which the installation company estimated will cost $2,000 to $3,000.
Through competitive bidding, the hospital decided to use Fry and Associates to install the matting.
The Kansas City based company also is replacing Play Matta flooring at a playground in Kansas City, and next week, it will begin resurfacing one in St. Louis County.
Jack Fry, the owner of the supply company, said the matting is a dual layer system. The bottom layer is made from recycled tire rubber used to absorb impact from falls. The top layer is made from recycled PVC plastic that is used to cover electric wires.
“The concern is with the top, however, it hasn’t really been defined as a problem,” he said.
Recycled PVC plastic is stabilized using lead, Fry said.
Play Matta has run tests showing the lead cannot be absorbed directly from its product, Fry said. But when the plastic is broken down with acid, lead is released.
“To err on the side of anything that may come out of the future, we are volunteering to replace it,” Fry said.
Approximately 1 million square feet of Play Matta are set in playgrounds around the world, Fry said. While it is relatively new to this area, it has been used in California for seven to eight years.
“We’ve got playgrounds worldwide,” Harris said, “and we have never had any playground shut down because of a lead scare like this.”