Concerns over child safety wearing sandals on Reutlingen's playgrounds
In the heart of Reutlingen, Germany, lies the popular Pomology playground, a beloved meeting place for both young and old. Covering approximately 450 square meters, the play area is filled with hydro-classified, germ-free quartz sand, ensuring a safe and clean environment for sand play.
The sand, a coarse material that hardly dirties clothing, is used on all 130 municipal playgrounds in Reutlingen. Each year, an external service provider is employed to clean the sandpit content, maintaining its pristine condition.
However, the playground is not without its challenges. Cigarette butts, shards, and sharp bottle caps pose a risk of injury to small children. To mitigate this, it is essential to maintain a clean and litter-free environment.
Recent heavy rainfall may have impacted the sand quality, potentially causing rotting organic material and disrupting the balance of bacteria and germs. While microorganisms are present in every sandpit, mass multiplication can cause problems. Fortunately, human litter is a more significant safety concern in Reutlingen's sandboxes.
When it comes to maintenance, the sand-covered play area in the Pomology is refilled roughly every three to five years. However, due to staffing issues, municipal austerity measures, and the guarantee of healthy sand play, this period has been extended to a seven-year cycle.
When the sand needs replacing, approximately nine truckloads of material are needed to fill the play area, which is refilled to a depth of 40 to 50 centimeters. The worn-out sand from the Pomology is recycled instead of being discarded, with it being transported to the local cemetery and used as compost for planting soil.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information on the maintenance schedule and litter management policy for the Pomology playground, it is recommended to contact the Reutlingen city parks and recreation office. Alternatively, you can check the City of Reutlingen official website or local community groups for any publicly posted information. On-site notices at the playground may also detail maintenance times, safety inspections, or litter disposal guidelines.
- To maintain a safe and clean environment for the children playing at the Pomology playground, an external service provider is employed annually to clean the sandpit content, eliminating cigarette butts, shards, and sharp bottle caps that could cause injuries.
- In addition to maintaining a litter-free environment, it's crucial to ensure the health-and-wellness aspect of the playground, as recent heavy rainfall may have impacted the sand quality, potentially causing rotting organic material and disturbing the balance of bacteria and germs.
- For those interested in lifestyle choices that promote home-and-garden sustainability, it's worth noting that the worn-out sand from the Pomology playground is recycled and used as compost for planting soil at the local cemetery when the sand needs replacing.
