Scott Gerber

The City and County of San Francisco, of all places, should make decisions grounded in science. Yet, when it comes to a $45 million playground renovation, the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department seems ready to abandon facts for fear—and Bay Area families will pay the price.

A look at 10 parks and playgrounds around the country that use recycled rubber to promote active play throughout the year.

At a time when high-quality recreation is at a premium, a moratorium on turf risks standing in the way of safe and accessible opportunities for play.

The reality is that when rain is in the forecast, the question on parents’ minds isn’t just “Will it stop in time?” but “Will my kid have a good day or a bad day?”