132 replies to this topic

[Holden West]

"RT @clintlalonde: Yes, that is a giant lightswitch in playground. Camosun art students strike again http://twitpic.com/krpbb"

[Holden West]

Is it true that most municipal playgrounds had shacks full of sporting equipment and games 40+ years ago?

I was told that they were manned by teens hired by the City and that in the summertime they would "rent" out balls and gloves etc. and I think even board games if the weather was rainy.

Anyway, I think this would be a good thing to bring back. Relatively low cost and high benefit to the community.

[victorian fan]

Is it true that most municipal playgrounds had shacks full of sporting equipment and games 40+ years ago?

They certainly did when I was a girl. In the summertime, they held the supplies for crafts, that were set up on long trestle tables. The 'old' man responsible at Beacon Hill's concrete playground, always dressed in shorts and running shoes.
Happy days.

[Holden West]

Indoor mega-slides for grown-ups.

http://www.fastcodes...ed-of-fun-video

Dare I say this would be a great addition to the Atrium office building?

[Sparky]

^ Green "down escalators" gravity feed. I would use them.

[victorian fan]

Musical stairs

2lXh2n0aPyw

[Rob Randall]

I like this: giant tinkertoy playground kids assemble themselves:

http://www.nytimes.c...25_opchart.html

[Holden West]

...critics say that [safe] playgrounds may stunt emotional development, leaving children with anxieties and fears that are ultimately worse than a broken bone.

“Children need to encounter risks and overcome fears on the playground,” said Ellen Sandseter, a professor of psychology at Queen Maud University in Norway. “I think monkey bars and tall slides are great. As playgrounds become more and more boring, these are some of the few features that still can give children thrilling experiences with heights and high speed.”

http://www.nytimes.c...l?_r=1&src=dayp

[Mike K.]

Finally someone comes out and says it. I still like the odd swingset session myself and I've noticed that newer swings are so lame that kids can barely get a thrill out if them.

[gumgum]

There still are some pretty "dangerous" playgrounds. Some are brand new. Check out the one in James Bay by the community center, or the one next the Crystal Pool. I am happy to let my kids play on them, but climbing them can be darn right scary. (Part of what makes them fun.)

I think most new playgrounds these days are not designed to prevent broken limbs, but broken spines.

There always should be a balance. Kids need to take risks; but honestly some of the playgrounds I played on as a kid were more like bomb sites.

[gumgum]

Anybody been to the new playground on Cook St. next to the lawn bowling? It's probably the best in town. There's a zipline, a giant spinning climber that i call the christmas tree as it's green and shaped like one. Plenty of swings, slides, a sand area with a huge sculpted dinosaur for the kiddies to climb on. It's become incredibly popular with people in the neighbourhood and many from beyond.
It brings in so many people from outside the neighbourhood I'm sure it must be helping businesses in the Village considerably. Yes, it is that popular.

This is what should have been done at Cridge Park. Such a lost opportunity to bring in families, which would in turn bring in money to local businesses. Instead they install a bunch of useless paths and place a bunch of pointy rocks where the homeless used to sleep. The design was more to repel the homeless than it was to entertain and stimulate. Such a shame. So lacking in imagination.

[G-Man]

Yeah not bad. A bit too busy tho.

[aastra]

The absence of monkey bars dinged its rating a bit with my crowd. But it's a big improvement, for sure. It's definitely very popular.