Playground Turf in Orlando, FL

Playground turf is synthetic grass installed over a foam pad under play equipment, so kids land on a cushioned surface instead of bare dirt, worn grass or loose mulch. In Orlando backyards, the ground under a swing set is usually the first place grass dies, and after summer storms it becomes a mud pit. Turf keeps the area usable year-round, keeps sand and mud out of the house, and does not wash away or need topping up like mulch.

Padding and fall height

The pad is what provides cushioning, not the turf itself. Foam pads come in different thicknesses; thicker pads are used under taller equipment. Greatmats, a playground surfacing supplier, offers turf with 1.25-inch and 2.25-inch pads and describes the thicker pad as giving the most fall protection. Ask the play set manufacturer for its fall height, and we will match the pad to it and explain what the product's tested rating covers.

Planning for heat

This is the part we will not skip. Synthetic turf in direct sun gets far hotter than grass: a UNLV study measured surface temperatures up to 169°F, and UF/IFAS research reported 174°F on the hottest days. For a play area, that matters. The best spots are shaded by trees, a lanai or a shade sail, and on summer afternoons a quick hose-down cools the surface. Light-colored or heat-reducing products help, but none of them keep turf as cool as shade does.

Drainage under play sets

Play areas collect water easily: they are often in low corners of the yard, and swing paths wear dips into the ground. We grade the area before building the base so water drains away, and both the pad and turf are permeable so rain passes through.

Infill choices for kids

Florida DEP's rulemaking materials for the residential turf standards say no rubber infill, and we do not use it, which removes a common concern for parents. For play areas we use sand-based infill or, with some padded systems, little or no infill. We explain the trade-offs at the estimate.

Working around equipment

If your play set is already in place, we can work around the legs or move it during installation and reset it on the finished surface. Anchors are planned so they do not puncture the pad in the wrong place. If you are buying new equipment, install the turf first when you can.