Playtime's Over, Kids!

The Petit Park playground has been ripped from the earth.

The project, intended to bring the park's play equipment up to ADA standards, will have the playground out of service for about six weeks, according to GHSNC member and park employee Sean Rivas.

"Our playground is no longer going to be a full sand structure. We will have a soft rubber flooring with a small sand area. This allows all persons with disabilities to utilize the playground," Rivas said via email. Much-needed shade awnings will also be added to the structure.

With the removal of the articulated bridge, I guess that means no more ricochet jumps like the ones pictured below. The now-historic photos below were taken immediately after the (wildly successful, I might add!) Incredibles Movie Night and Food Truck Fest.


Figure 1.Figure 2.

These photos illustrate one possible use of the play equipment: recreation undertaken by young people. Yet unfortunately, these feats of daring, performed to a cheering crowd, were, in sadly typical grown up fashion, halted in the name of "safety" -- the term most often invoked to dampen the antics of naturally high spirited young people.

Despite the fact that this playground equipment is designed to withstand the rigors of play, and built to ASTM F 1487 safety standards, a self-appointed security guard, wearing a cop-like navy blue baseball cap and windbreaker came over and yelled at the kids to stop, saying, “You’re going to break it!”

I continued to laugh, and snap pictures, and engage him, arguing that play equipment was designed precisely for this purpose: for the enjoyment of young people. Captain Buzzkill's frustrated reply: "You're just encouraging them!"

That I am, Captain. That I am.






Top photo courtesy Jim Ingwersen

Comments

  1. So thats what happened to the park, thanks for the info!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Archive: Master of Pirates

Starlet Visits Granada Hills!

Thoughts on Joe's Cafe and cancel culture