Recycled Tire Bits for Parks

In our neighborhood, where all of the children play at our park, is filled with the recycled tire bits. "They" claim that is is better than pebbles, for it is softer to land on and preventing less scrapes. However I disagree, if you go on a relatively warm, (forget hot) day, the smell is atrocious and nauseating. Is it really all that better for our children and for their lungs. People that live across the park have commented how intolerable it is in the hot summer days. What is your view? Thank you.