That’s a really important question—and I’m glad you’re asking before spending time in a park. First, I want to assure you that we take health concerns seriously, and we’ve designed our benches with user safety in mind.
To answer directly: No, our park benches do not use treated lumber that is known to cause allergic reactions in most people. We specifically choose woods that are naturally low in allergens, such as cedar or teak, and we avoid chemically treated woods like pressure-treated pine (which often contains copper or arsenic-based preservatives). That said, if you have a known allergy to specific woods—like rosewood, oak, or walnut—even natural lumber can sometimes trigger a reaction, though this is rare for casual contact like sitting.
Our benches are sealed with a non-toxic, hypoallergenic finish that prevents direct skin contact with the raw wood surface. We also avoid using varnishes or stains that contain common allergens like formaldehyde. For extra safety, we can provide benches made from metal or recycled HDPE (a plastic lumber alternative) upon request, which are completely free of wood allergens.
If you have a severe allergy, I’d recommend contacting us ahead of time with the specific wood you react to, and we can check our current installation. In general, though, you should feel comfortable using our benches. Let me know if you’d like a material list for your local park!