Just mention 'back-to-school' and most people think about pencils, paper, backpacks and all those fun supplies students need to start school. One thing that you may not have thought about, but is no less important for students is, playground surfacing. That's right, playground surfacing. Or as it's referred to in the playground industry, safety surfacing. 
    If you're a principal or superintendent, you've probably already considered the condition of your playground, and whether or not you need to replenish any loose-fill surfacing. Or you may be like most school officials and it's one of those "I'll get around to it" items on your ever-growing to-do list, so it just keeps getting pushed down the list. Well don't let it get lost in the back-to-school activities because if your playground surfacing is more than 2 or 3 years old, you might need to replenish (top-off) or replace it altogether. If you ignore this important, but often overlooked area of your playground, you are only inviting undo liability on your school or organization.

Shan Shepherd
Noah's Park and Playgrounds™