Soil Safety Program

Arsenic and lead in play-area soil can pose a risk to children. We provide free soil sampling and soil safety actions for play areas within the program service area (see map for boundary). We sample public and private schools, licensed childcares, parks, camps, and multi-family public housing.


Are you starting a new childcare facility?

The Department of Early Learning requires childcare facilities located in the program area to sign up for soil sampling before getting a license. See our interactive map to find out if you are in our service area.

For parents


Soil sampling and safety actions completed

  • 2016 marked the ten-year anniversary of the Soil Safety Program. This blog summarizes the work we’ve completed.
  • Soil sampling: We have sampled over 1,000 existing play areas in collaboration with local health departments in King, Pierce, and Thurston counties.
  • Soil safety actions: We found over 100 play areas with elevated arsenic or lead and performed safety actions on 90 percent of them. Example soil safety actions we’ve taken are: removing and replacing soil, covering soil with wood chips or gravel, or placing signs.

Map of the Soil Safety Program Boundary. The Soil Safety Program covers Vashon-Maury Island in King County and west of the I-5 corridor through Pierce County to the Thurston County border. 

Translated content