NYC – Today, Councilmembers Bill de Blasio and Jessica Lappin introduced legislation in the Council to protect children from the dangers of hot mats at city playgrounds during the peak summer months. The black, tiled mats underneath playground equipment can reach temperatures over 166 degrees Fahrenheit. On hot summer days, these mats can pose a considerable danger to children. The legislation, Intro 896, requires that the City post signs at all playgrounds warning parents and children of the potential dangers of hot playground mats.
“Playgrounds should be a safe place for our children to enjoy themselves. Yet these mats – there to protect children from dangerous falls – have proven to be extremely harmful, particularly as the temperatures rise in the hot summer months. This legislation will help warn parents of this potential danger, and protect our City’s children from unnecessary and painful burns,” said Councilmember Bill de Blasio.
“The current signs saying ‘footwear should be worn’ just don’t cut it. The temperature of these mats can reach 165 degrees. They can severely burn children and parents and caretakers need to be appropriately warned,” said Councilmember Jessica Lappin.
In 2004, for example, a little boy was hospitalized for three days for second-degree burns that he sustained while playing at Van Voorhees Playground in Brooklyn.
“The dangerous black rubber mats that have been installed in our New York City playgrounds have been a concern of Windsor Terrace and Kensington neighborhood families for some time. These mats have injured children, particularly newly walking tots. Barring a full replacement of these mats, which we hope will ultimately happen, a warning sign of their potential danger posted in our playgrounds is absolutely critical. Friends of Greenwood Playground is in full support of this legislative proposal presented by Councilmembers Bill de Blasio and Jessica Lappin,” said Patti McDannell of Friends of Greenwood Playground.
“These playground mats (which have been reported to reach temperatures of over 160 degrees) are a real danger that every parent needs to know about. Fortunately, more of our children have not been harmed by unknowingly walking on them barefoot but something must be done before there are any more injuries. As a community with a substantial population of toddlers and elementary school age children and several playgrounds, the Windsor Terrace Alliance supports the proposed de Blasio/Lappin legislation,” said Lauren Collins, Co-Founder of the Windsor Terrace Alliance.
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my daughter suffered second degree burns at the 18th ave park in boro park this summer. She was hospitalized because her whole foot was burned. There were no sign warning about the danger even though, according to the doctor at the hospital and the hatzolah that hospitalized my daughter, this wasn’t an isolated incident this summer. many parks that opened this summer had the asphalt put in that doubles in temperature and absorbs heat to enormous degrees. the city knew about it and didn’t post signs warning parents not to allow children to walk barefoot in the park despite the fact there were active sprinklers. The city better do something about it because in a legal court of law, signs really won’t help them against this gross negligence on their part. My daughter who is 4, developed a phobia of playgrounds and refuses to take baths because she is scared it’ll hurt her feet. We have fights every night. Parents, beware!!!