The Recreation Advisory Committee invited representatives from K.B. Industries, Inc. to its meeting May 19 to talk about the Flexi®-Pave product under consideration for the walking trail at Lindberg Park.

Kevin Bagnall, founder, CEO and chairman, and Tom Carroll, Pennsylvania state sales manager, brought samples to the committee for review and answered questions.

Flexi®-Pave is a porous paving alternative to traditional concrete or asphalt. The paving percolates at 2,000 gallons per square foot per hour eliminating standing water, pollution from urbanization in runoff and provides positive groundwater recharge.

Flexi®-Pave is made from recycled tires; it is estimated 10,000 tires will be used on the 33,000 square foot walk at Lindberg Park. The system is guaranteed for 10 years and according to Bagnall, is maintenance free unlike asphalt and concrete.

"It is more than just a trail," Bagnall said, "it is a material with lots of legs."

Committee members were informed if a bituminous product is chosen, a stormwater system will also have to be installed and repairs will need to be made periodically to the surface.

Advisory committee member Frank McCullough asked if there is a concern about residents who have allergies to tires or rubber. Bagnall said there is a coating on the tire and the material must pass a number of tests before it can be placed in a public area.

Another question asked was in reference to cold weather and ice. Bagnall said the water goes through the material rather than laying on top thereby virtually eliminating an ice situation. Regarding the maintenance, if dirt gets into the material, a vacuum machine can be used to pull the dirt out of the material.

The representatives said no fluids such as gas, acid and oils will affect the material; it may stain but the fluid just goes through the material.

Carroll said the KBI Flexi®-Pave system is the only approved sidewalk system in Arlington National Cemetery. It is also installed at the Smithsonian Institution, NASA, numerous universities, city, county, state and federal agencies.

It would be the first system installed in Pennsylvania if the system is approved.

Bagnall said the company currently has three million tires in use.

Following the presentation, the committee approved the Flexi®-Pave product as the principal product for the walking trail at Lindberg Park.

Township Manager Randy Soriano said the township plans to bid the project in August, accept bids in September and have the trail completed by the end of the year.