Why Denver Parks and Rec Chose Eco-Friendly Playground Turf for Their Park

Denver, CO – According to the Trust for Public Land, 28 million children in the U.S. don’t have a park within a 10-minute walk of home. Convenient access to nature is crucial to kids’ overall well-being, and Denver Parks & Recreation’s 20-year “Game Plan for a Healthy City” aims to make easy access to public parks a basic right for residents in every neighborhood.

SYNLawn Colorado supports this worthy initiative. The team was hired by Western States Reclamation, an environmental restoration contractor, to help develop Kentucky & Knox Park, a green recreation space with a play zone for children in Denver’s Westport community, built with eco-friendly playground turf.

Designing a Custom Play Area With Neighborhood Input

Since the park was built to serve Westport’s children and families, SYNLawn Colorado asked residents for their input and ideas while developing the design for the custom play area. That feedback helped the team choose the right mix of artificial grass products for the project. Many parents specifically asked for an eco-friendly turf, and the final design delivered.

Three Eco-Friendly Playground Turf Surfaces, Each With a Purpose

SYNLawn Colorado installed three different SYNLawn products, each chosen for a specific area of the park:

• 5,070 square feet of Play Platinum in the open areas: Expecting heavy foot traffic, the team chose one of SYNLawn’s safest and most durable synthetic surfaces for children. It’s powered by Trionic Plus™ Technology, a fusion of nylon and polyethylene that creates a softer, stronger, longer-lasting turf. Super Drain+™ Technology helps keep the play space mud-free, even after spring snowmelt. Play Platinum also carries an ASTM Class A fire rating and is tested and certified by the International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA).
• 975 square feet of SYNPlay 48 in blue around the play equipment: This vibrant surface adds a burst of color and is built for high-traffic durability, with an energy-absorbing cushion that helps prevent common play injuries.
• 90 square feet of Classic Pitch in the landing zones: Its durable nylon fibers stand up to repeated use, and it carries an ASTM E108 Class A fire rating.

Play Platinum and Classic Pitch are both made with SYNLawn’s plant-based EnviroLoc+™ Backing System, which uses renewable resources, meeting the parents’ request for a more sustainable play surface. The turf also needs no watering to stay green, a meaningful benefit in Colorado’s semi-arid climate.

Project at a glance:

• Location: Kentucky & Knox Park, Westport neighborhood, Denver, Colorado
• Installer: SYNLawn Colorado
• Project partner: Western States Reclamation
• Project type: Neighborhood park play area designed with community input
• Products: 5,070 square feet of Play Platinum, 975 square feet of SYNPlay 48 in blue, and 90 square feet of Classic Pitch
• Recognition: “Best Playground Project” award at the annual SYNLawn Conference

An Award-Winning Park for Generations of Denver Kids

SYNLawn Colorado is proud to be part of the history of Kentucky & Knox Park and to give generations of local kids a safe, easily accessible place to play. The team’s efforts were recognized at the annual SYNLawn Conference, where it received the “Best Playground Project” award.

Bring More Green Space to Your Colorado Community

Kentucky & Knox Park is a great example of how thoughtful design can bring more green space to the people who need it most. Whether you’re planning a neighborhood park in Denver, a school playground in Lakewood or Aurora, or a recreation space anywhere along the Front Range, SYNLawn would love to help you design a safe, sustainable space your community will enjoy for years to come. Contact SYNLawn today to talk through your ideas and get started.