kiddies play area base

[caveman_nige]

I am finally going to sort out a patch in the middle of my lawn where i filled in a pond. I was initially going to get another tonne of topsoil to level it off and then turf it.

However I have now decided it will be an ideal spot to put my little daughter's swing and slide when i get them. So i am now trying to find out about what are the options for putting down a suitable kiddie safe base that she can play on. Somebody here must have made someting like this. I have been told about bark mulch but my wife does not want our kid to be putting it in her gob.. Somebody also mentioned astro turf to me a few weeks back, but need all options...

Any ideas?

Pics are always good if you want to show off your handywork

Thanks

[barrowmanandrew]

you can get rubber slab or matts.
concrete your swings/ chutes anchors in, then level and concrete full area, then the matts interlock and glue onto the concrete.
drawbacks,
they are not cheap
you will have to dig out full area so that matts become flush with your grass.

[patkins]

Nige, we treasure our little ones to the point of wrapping them in cotton wool when the knocks, bruises and skinned knees of childhood are all part of the growing process.
I dont have a suggestion other than concreting the area for your kid to play.

[snook123]

Hi I have the same problem I would love a surface like you get in the parks but they are done my contractors that do not do domestic work. I did find a surface on eBay (link below) it is plastic chippings and he says you can bond them together with a resin he will supply instructions or you can just have them laid on top of a weed suppressant cover.
Eco Bark Rubber Chipping 500 kilo bulk bg to cover 25m2 on eBay (end time 14-Aug-10 16:16:09 BST)
Cheers