Playgrounds in Los Angeles, Calif., are exuding the meaning of upcycled! That’s because recycled gym surfacing from four Equinox fitness clubs was recently transformed into SpectraPour playground surfacing and installed at 18 playgrounds. This effort was the result of a partnership between SpectraTurf, its parent company, Ecore International, Equinox, and LA County Parks and Recreation. 

Ecore upcycled the outdated flooring from a number of Equinox fitness clubs by grinding the surfacing down and turning it into playground material as part of its TRUcircularity™ program. Ecore’s TRUcircularity™ program reclaims old rubber surfaces and recycles them into new ones in pursuit of a cleaner, greener planet. Equinox’s participation in this program also allowed it to comply with the updated LA County Construction and Demolition Recycle Reuse Ordinance that requires 70 percent of construction and demolition debris to be recycled. SpectraTurf helped to streamline this project by assisting with the necessary paperwork to show compliance with recycling requirements. This level of support ensured that all stakeholders met their sustainability goals while contributing to a larger, circular business model. 

The used flooring was collected from a few Equinox locations in New York City and four locations in Los Angeles: Westwood, Woodland Hills, Beverly Hills, and Sports Club OC. In total, 27,600 square-feet of material, equating to about 100,000 pounds of rubber, was gathered and sent to SpectraTurf’s facility near Corona, Calif., for processing. There it was transformed into Spectra Pour safety surfacing, SpectraTurf’s flagship poured-in-place system since 1986. This surface is available in a wide variety of colors and can be used to create intricate and visually pleasing designs. SpectraPour also has excellent shock-absorbing qualities, making it ideal for applications that require critical fall height ratings and comfort.

Eighteen playgrounds were installed, including Belvedere Park and South Broadway Pocket Park in Los Angeles County, using TRUcircularity material. Recreation Structures Inc., a company that supplies playground equipment and surfacing to the City of Los Angeles’ Department of Parks and Recreation, played a crucial role in the installation of the new safety surfacing. 

SpectraTurf helped to streamline this project by assisting with the necessary paperwork to show compliance with recycling requirements. This level of support ensured that all stakeholders met their sustainability goals while contributing to a larger, circular business model.

“The transition to a circular economy is crucial for sustainability,” said Lisa Anderson, Vice President of Ecore Construction Units. “Projects like this are not only beneficial for the environment but also show how industries can work together to create real impact. By repurposing gym flooring into playground surfacing, we’re showing the possibilities of a sustainable future.”

Anderson also noted that the short turnaround time for the project – from tile removal to new playground installation – was a major achievement. “In just two weeks, we managed to remove, process, and install the recycled materials,” said Anderson. “It’s exciting to think about expanding this model beyond California.”