The childcare playground safety upgrade at Twinkle House Early Learning was designed to address several challenges with the centre’s existing bark-covered play area.
Unreal Lawns transformed the space by removing 350–400 mm of bark and soil, rebuilding the foundation and installing EverCool artificial grass over a 30 mm certified playground safety shockpad system.
The result is a cleaner, more accessible outdoor play environment with a certified Critical Fall Height of 1.5 metres, helping children play, explore and learn with greater confidence.
The Challenge: Why a Childcare Playground Safety Upgrade Was Needed
The existing bark playground at Twinkle House Early Learning presented several challenges for the centre.
Over time, loose bark was spreading beyond the playground and onto surrounding areas, creating additional cleaning and maintenance work.
The depth of the bark and underlying soil also meant the playground surface sat above the adjoining concrete bike track. This created an uneven transition and a potential trip hazard for children moving between the two areas.
Another important concern was the playground swings. Without suitable impact-attenuating surfacing beneath them, the swings could not be used safely.
Rather than simply replacing the bark, the centre wanted a long-term solution that would address the ground levels, provide certified fall protection and create a more practical outdoor learning environment.
The Solution: Rebuilding the Playground from the Ground Up
Rather than simply covering the existing bark, Unreal Lawns completely rebuilt the playground surface to address the underlying safety and ground-level issues.
The team removed approximately 350–400 mm of bark and soil, lowering the playground to create a smoother transition from the adjoining concrete bike track.
Once excavation was complete, a new foundation was constructed using 100 mm of compacted GAP20 aggregate, followed by a GAP7 finishing layer to contour the surface and achieve the required levels.
With the base prepared, a 30 mm playground safety shockpad was installed beneath EverCool artificial grass, creating a system with a certified Critical Fall Height of 1.5 metres.
This approach addressed the original height difference while providing a stable, low-maintenance surface with impact protection for the playground equipment.
The Result: A Safer, Cleaner Playground for Everyday Play
The completed playground at Twinkle House Early Learning is a significant improvement over the original bark-covered area.
By lowering the ground levels and rebuilding the foundation, Unreal Lawns created a more even transition between the artificial grass and the adjoining concrete bike track, addressing one of the original trip hazards.
The combination of EverCool artificial grass and the 30 mm safety shockpad provides certified impact protection, creating a more practical playground surface for everyday use.
EverCool’s heat-reflecting yarn technology is designed to help reduce heat absorption compared with conventional artificial grass, making it a practical option for outdoor childcare environments.
Replacing loose bark with artificial grass also helps reduce ongoing maintenance, eliminates scattered bark from the renovated area and provides a consistent surface for everyday play.
The result is an attractive, functional outdoor environment where children can enjoy the playground equipment while educators benefit from a cleaner, more manageable play space.
Planning a Childcare Playground Upgrade?
Every childcare playground has different requirements, from existing ground levels and drainage to playground equipment and critical fall height.
At Unreal Lawns, we provide complete artificial grass playground solutions, including excavation, foundation preparation, certified safety shockpad systems and professional artificial grass installation.
Whether you’re replacing loose bark, upgrading an ageing playground or developing a new outdoor learning space, we can help you plan a practical, low-maintenance solution that meets your centre’s requirements.
Contact Unreal Lawns to discuss your childcare playground project and arrange a quote.
