Sustainable Low Impact Design (SLID) in Playground Pavement

Abstract

Playground surfaces are crucial to child safety, public health, and urban environmental quality. This review explores the application of SLID principles in playground pavements, integrating civil engineering, environmental health, and urban planning to overcome the limitations of conventional materials. While traditional rubberized and synthetic surfaces meet impact standards, they often pose risks from toxic emissions, thermal hazards, and poor permeability. Drawing on 70+ peer-reviewed studies, manuals, and municipal guidelines, the review assesses materials across six SLID dimensions: ecological sensitivity, material safety, thermal performance, inclusive design, life-cycle sustainability, and multifunctionality. Findings show that synthetic surfaces can reach extreme temperatures and contain hazardous PAHs, heavy metals, and microplastics. In contrast, SLID-compliant materials like permeable pavers, engineered wood fiber, and rubber-natural hybrids offer safer, eco-friendly alternatives. Yet, inconsistent regulations, insufficient long-term data, and limited child-focused metrics remain obstacles. The study recommends integrating SLID into playground standards, prioritizing non-toxic, permeable, thermally stable materials, and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and participatory design. SLID emerges not just as a risk mitigation tool but as a strategy for inclusive, resilient, and climate-adaptive urban spaces.