It has come to my attention after attending the Measure Z Oversight Committee and doing some research, that not one of the Tot-Lots in the city parks meets the minimum standards for depth and quality of fill material, along with maintenance as set for forth in the California Code of Regulations, Health and Safety Code Division 104. Environmental Health, Part 10. Recreational Safety, Chapter 4. Safe Recreational Land Use, Article 1. Playgrounds.
Section 115725. (a) All new playgrounds open to the public built by a public agency or any other entity shall conform to the playground-related standards set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials and the playground-related guidelines set forth by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Looking at U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Handbook for Public Playground Safety guidelines Publication #325 (2010). Section 2.4.2.2 Loose-Fill Surfacing Material, when using a Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) it is recommended that equipment supports be marked with a minimum fill level to aid in maintaining the original depth of material.

This task was completed by the County of Riverside at the time of installation of the equipment in the Tot-Lot. Upon close observation over the weekend it has been observed and pictures posted on the internet that not a single decal that has been affixed for the purpose of noting the minimum depth of fill required is close to being covered or approached. Some of these decals are exposed by a couple of inches and others are exposed by almost a foot. By not meeting these minimum standards the risk of serious injury in a fall increases exponentially placing serious liability at the footstep of the city.

When digging down into the loose-fill material one reaches a cloth barrier, this barrier separates the loose-fill from the drainage field, one finds approximately 1 1/2 – 2 inches of completely decomposed wood material above this fabric which has no cushioning factor what so ever and should be removed before refill. This decomposed material is also wet and houses earthworms, signifying the possibility of a non-functioning drainage field which needs to be corrected. Without correction every winter several inches of fill material will become non-compliant and need to be replaced.

The risk of a child getting their head stuck under apparatuses increases with the reduced fill because areas that are not meant for play are exposed which could result in injury.

The lack of a maintenance schedule, which was made abundantly clear by statements at the Oversight Meeting, and can be seen in the unevenness of the surfaces in the Tot-Lots, plus the missing and broken hardware increases the probability of the city losing any litigation.

I am recommending that the City of Wildomar close off access to all the Tot-Lots immediately. I am also recommending that, by special session if necessary, a citizens committee be appointed to oversee the reworking of these Tot-Lots as the skills and the time allotted the part-time maintenance person or any other city staff is inadequate to complete the task in as short of time as possible. I am also recommending that no new equipment be installed in any Tot-Lot until such time as the deficiencies of each Tot-Lot is corrected and a certified inspection be completed and inspection sticker be affixed on a prominent place in each Tot-Lot.

Kenneth Mayes
Citizen of Wildomar

If anyone who has checked out the Tot-Lots agrees with the above you are encouraged to send the members of the City Council of Wildomar a similar letter. If you wish, you have my permission to use part or all of my letter. E-mail Address for the City Council Member are as follows.
Marsha Swanson, Mayor
mswanson@cityofwildomar.org

Ben Benoit, Mayor Pro Tem
bbenoit@cityofwildomar.org

Bob Cashman, Council Member
bcashman@cityofwildomar.org

Bridgette Moore, Council Member
bmoore@cityofwildomar.org

Timothy Walker, Council Member
twalker@cityofwildomar.org

Note the distance from the bottom of the decal. This is important.

This could answer the question of why the Tot-Lots have not been inspected using PARSAC grant money as promised before the parks re-opened in April.

Doing a little research brings one to an interesting Handbook adopted by statute in the State of California when the legislature amended Health & Safety Code 115730 to create new standards for public playground improvements. Section 115730 applies to all public playgrounds

ALL PUBLIC PLAYGROUNDS MUST CONFORM TO THESE STANDARDS.

Following the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Handbook for Public Playground Safety guidelines Publication #325 they are not.

The required fill depth for Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) is 12 inches for new material which can be allowed to compact to 9 inches.

When the Tot-Lot equipment was originally installed at the 3 parks, the equipment was marked with an appropriate filler material height as signified by decal affixed to each green post. An inspection of the 3 parks shows a serious lack of fill material which results in a lessened impact attenuation.
There are a total of 9 guidelines recommended by this Handbook

2. Loose-fill surfacing requires frequent maintenance to ensure surfacing levels never drop below the minimum depth. Areas under swings and at slide exits are more susceptible to displacement; special attention must be paid to maintenance in these areas. Additionally, wear mats can be installed in these areas to reduce displacement.
3. The perimeter of the playground should provide a method of containing the loose-fill materials. (This is accomplished by the concrete walkways that surround the Tot-Lots)
4. Consider marking equipment supports with a minimum fill level to aid in maintaining the original depth of material.

Heritage Park

I can hear you now, who goes to that park?

Marna O’Brien Park

Windsong Park

(These marking are present on the equipment currently in the Tot-Lots) (Not a single park has one marker that is reached by fill material.)
5. Good drainage is essential to maintaining loose-fill surfacing. Standing water with surfacing material reduces effectiveness and leads to material compaction and decomposition. (This has occurred in the Tot Lots, digging down to the Fabric layer between the fill material and the drainage field one finds decomposed wood material complete with earthworms approximately 1 ½ inches thick. The City of Wildomar staff and the current employee are unaware if a drainage system exist in the Tot Lots as none are shown on the drawings on file with the city according to them.)

More Dangers are present.

Angle iron should not be exposed at all.

Fill should reach round base.

Tripping hazard for all citizens. End of ramp should be completely covered.

This represents good maintenance? Notice the missing hardware.

If you look close the hose clamp has sharp edges.

One can find the Handbook referenced at
http://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/122149/325.pdf

The current part-time maintenance system being used by the City of Wildomar in its parks does not work.

There cheap signs but come on.

Little things count.

This was taken moments after the landscape crew left the park.

“ONLY RAIN IN THE DRAIN” marked as required or not

Newly planted and in need of attention to survive

Words not necessary

Some tough kids

This equipment was supposed to be inspected with grant money.