On 11 May 2003 10:33:14 -0700, )
wrote:

I have a 5,000 square foot area that will be used as neighborhood
playground. The area was full of weeds, which have been manually
removed and has now been covered with a very high quality weed block.
As a long term solution, we were interested in using rubber
mulch, but the cost was too high ($7,000 to $10,000 at a depth of 2.0
inches). As an alternative, what mulch would you say was the longest
lasting / slowest degrading type of mulch (cypress, pine needles, pine
bark, cedar, cocoa pods, coconut shells, or etc...). We are needing
approximately 32 cubic yards and would prefer not to have to perform
as much maintenance. Are there any mulch that do not break down or
that break down into matter that doesn't support weed growth?

Organic mulches will eventually break down into compost of some sort.
And nourish plant growth. You have a 2-part problem -- weed
surpression and a comfortable landing for kids in a playground area.
Foot traffic alone may be a fair weed-control. Seems to me a a
renewable bark mulch would be most appropriate.