AMHERST — Even with time running short for deciding on the preferred surface to be used below the new playground at the $97.5 million elementary school building under construction on South East Street, members of the Elementary School Building Committee delayed a decision to October.
While committee members prefer to use a cork-based surface known as Corkeen, problems with its installation at an elementary school in Easton are raising concerns. Margaret Wood, the owner’s project manager for construction of the new school, said the product “failed pretty miserably” in Easton. She also noted that finding installers who can handle the Corkeen hasn’t been easy.
“I think there are still a lot of flags on the issue, in short,” Wood told the committee at its meeting on Friday.
Corkeen is billed as an eco-friendly playground surface made of cork, as opposed to engineered wood fiber and poured-in-place rubber.
Bob Peirent, special capital projects coordinator for the town, said his worry is that the Corkeen installation, should it take place, is only warrantied for a year, even if the product is guaranteed for five years.
“That’s different than the typical warrant requirements that are used for rubber poured-in-place material,” Peirent said.
The playground, to be constructed starting next spring, needs 13,490 square feet of surface, and the committee has looked at Corkeen because of accessibility concerns with wood fiber and rubber.
The Conservation Commission expressed worry about the poured-in-place surface due to the proximity to wetlands and possible leaching of chemicals, while the Board of Health also issued an advisory opinion that Amherst should avoid using materials found in poured-in-place rubber.
Committee Chairwoman Cathy Schoen knew Corkeen was a risky choice.
“At this point, we have concerns about the level of experience of the installers and the level of warranty and bonding they would give us,” Schoen said. “That is all new information we did not have when we thought we had found the dream solution.”
Even with continued concerns, Deb Leonard, of the Amherst School Committee, said she would be uncomfortable if a “bait and switch” takes place, leading to a playground surface that nobody can use.
Fort River Principal Tamera Sullivan-Daley said her worry is Corkeen appears to have only two installers and may not have long-term accessibility.
Wildwood Principal Allison Estes said there is “a very real accessibility need” for the playground, especially for those in the Intensive Learning Center program. Any surface that can move makes it harder for 5-year-olds in wheelchairs to navigate, and Estes said she doesn’t want them to not have access, sitting at the edge while watching their friends play.
“I don’t like the idea that engineered wood fiber is an option,” Estes said.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman said without evidence of an installation of Corkeen in a northern climate that has survived at least one year, if not five years, his concern is liability, risk assessment and financial.
“If we don’t have evidence of an actual thing, we’re really buying an experiment,” Bockelman said.
Committee member Jonathan Salvon said if the town can get a bond and protection for the town, then Corkeen would be a fully accessible surface and is comparable to the top industry standard poured-in-place rubber.
Schoen said engineered wood fiber has to be the fallback, unless the Conservation Commission amends its decision. “We don’t have another miracle solution,” Schoenm said.
During public comment, parent Ellen Jedrey-Guidera said Corkeen is environmentally sound, doesn’t leach toxins, and doesn’t emit volatile organic compounds, and will have a lower surface temperature.
“The product may be new to the United States, but it’s not new to Europe,” Guidera said.