Playing on sand playgrounds in public areas is an activity that is commonly performed by children and adolescents. Therefore, recreational sand in inadequate conditions is risky to human health. The aim of this study was to verify the occurrence of coliforms in sand playgrounds in public squares located in the city of Palmas, Paraná. The experiment was conducted in six public squares. The samples were processed in the laboratory of Microbiology at Federal Institute of Paraná, during September and November 2011. The multitube method was adopted for the research, and the results were analyzed and compared through the Table of the Most Probable Number. Only the square located between Pedro Cordes and Cacique Conda streets in Lagoão District showed no contamination by total and thermotolerant coliforms. The site that presented a higher rate of faecal coliform contamination was the Plaza located between Capitão Paulo Araújo and Sete de Setembro streets, at the District of Santa Cruz. The square located at Parque da Gruta presented the highest level of contamination by coliforms. The other places showed at least one point of contamination by one of the coliform groups. In general terms, only one square was appropriate for use. It is necessary more attention from the authorities to improve the sanitary and hygienic conditions of the rest of the squares, which are inadequate to use. It is also necessary to establish an effective health quality legislation concerning sands for playgrounds, in order to ensure routine control over their conditions.