Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Since having my two year old, it's become obvious to me that the playgrounds of my youth are an endangered species. Occasionally, when visiting older cities, I encounter the old-fashioned playgrounds of my youth- metal fixtures, rather than plastic, merry-go-rounds, the animals attached with springs that kids sit and bounce on, see-saws, etc. However, all the playgrounds I've found around me are the more modern, modular, plastic fixtures with climbing walls and swinging bridges, and plastic swings. These are fine, and I suspect, safer, but I'd like the option of taking my daughter to some of the "retro" variety of playground.
Does anyone know of any of these "old-school" playgrounds in the Triangle? I live near Chapel Hill, so Chapel Hill and Durham would be most convenient, but at this point, I'd probably drive all the way to Clayton for an old-fashioned playground with see-saws and a merry-go-round.
I have yet to see a playground with a real see-saw. I have found one with a spring operated see-saw, but that didn't go up and down very much. I really liked those push little merry-go-rounds when I was a kid, but I haven't seen one of those, either. Good luck with the hunt.
In this day and age, I suspect that to even enter such a playground with your child you will have to sign a form releasing the city or property owner from any liability!
My guess is that as the old playground equipment ages it no longer meets "code" and therefore is replaced with safer equipment. We grew up when kids were tough... concrete playground surfaces, steep (unbeleivably steep!) slides, burning hot metal dishes that you could spin in until you threw up! That was before seat belts, bike helmets and child safety locks!
Thanks for the advice, guys! It sounds like I'll be making a trip to Pullen Park and Durham Park!
It's hilarious to me how we're told that we were raised incorrectly when we were kids. I bought a DVD set of old school Sesame Street, and there was a warning on the box that the DVDs might not be appropriate for today's children and today's childraising philosophies. Alrighty then...
Due to parents blaming the city for their kid getting injured in today's society those type of things like see saws and that one thing you would get on and you have one kid spin it around then you ride it til you was dizzy are endager due to high insurance for the city to provide these "risky" type of rides.
The community playground of my childhood. Notice the height of the dual sliding boards. No wood chips landing or plastic to be found anywhere. Just wood, steel, iron and concrete. It was great.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
