Playground Shade Structures Protect Kids from Sun

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Playgrounds can be one of the greatest weapons in the fight against childhood obesity. But encouraging kids to go outside and be active to improve their health is like jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Playgrounds can be one of the greatest weapons in the fight against childhood obesity. But encouraging kids to go outside and be active to improve their health is like jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. "Here in Arizona it's awfully hot in summer," says Tyrone Allen, senior management assistant with the Chandler Parks Division. "Without shade, some of our playgrounds just aren't usable."

Triple-digit air temperatures can easily translate to temperatures 40 to 80 degrees higher on equipment and surfaces, according to Ashley Donde, senior vice president of Dallas-based USA Shade & Fabric Structures. It depends, in part, on the material makeup of the equipment, as well as the playground surface - newer surfaces made with rubber and other green materials are more habitable than the "heat islands" created by asphalt and concrete. Says Donde, "Every summer, dozens of children end up in the ER with playground burns."

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