Turning Tires Into Trails

The problem with old used tires, is that they last FOREVER and there aren't many secondary uses for them. Plus they're really not too slightly, even as planters in your grandmothers front yard.

Well, we finally have another use for them that goes beyond the typical recycling. Using them to make hard surface walkways where normal concrete and asphalt just don't do the job.

Unfortunately in natural areas, like our wonderful Tennessee State Parks, tree roots and other earth moving events are common. These are almost always a death sentence for concrete and asphalt since they have little to no flexibility. Also, these impermeable solid surfaces do a lot to alter an area's hydrology which can be a big no-no in very sensitive ecological areas.

That's where flexible porous paving alternatives shine brightly. In this case specifically, we are talking about a surfacing called Flexi-Pave. It is a rubber and rock mixture that surfaces areas where concrete and asphalt would have normally been used in the past, but may not have truly been the best solution.

It is composed of ground up tires, which in this case have been dyed brown in order to be more aesthetically pleasing in a natural setting.

Some rock to give it rigidity and structure.

And a "binder", or a fancy glue with a well protected scientific formula. This is the most important part as it is extremely difficult to find things that permanently stick to tire rubber.

Once it is all mixed, it is poured and spread just like concrete. Not only is it hard and ready to be walked on within 24 hours. But once it is it is completely porous to water (35 gallons per square foot per minute) and extremely forgiving and flexible so that tree roots and other normal earth moving events don't compromise it's structure and function.

I was extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish with this project in Tennessee State Parks, and this is only the beginning. When this path is complete it will be approximately 1/2 mile long, completely ADA compliant, and will have recycled almost 7,000 tires. Not to mention all of the other applications that we have planned across the state over our 1,200 mile trail system.