Oooh, shiny object over there? I'll run to get it! Oooh, a parking lot? Potential danger? Let me run into it! Oooh, a road with fast moving vehicles? Let's run over there to play human Frogger! Oooh, a stranger with a snack? I'll run to greet them and ask for their snack!
Her brain's not fully developed yet. Let's just remember that. However, as her parent, I do have an obligation to keep her safe. She's cute, I like her, and I don't look good in stripes. Our yard isn't fenced. Many playgrounds aren't fenced completely. The baby pool where we swim most often doesn't have a self closing gate. LEG has quite a bit of energy. (What toddler doesn't?) The lack of fences in the places where we spend most of our time, her boundless energy, and her lack of complete regard for safety makes for a dangerous combination.
Dog parks have fences, often double ones at the entrance / exit. It's really hard for the dogs to escape. I jokingly suggested to my friend bethanylara that I take LEG to a dog park for safe play so I can spend less time retrieving her from the woods and parking lots around playgrounds when I've been distracted by my own shiny object and lost sight of her for 0.5 seconds. What followed was a grand discussion on how playgrounds should be designed. We've clearly missed our calling in life. Enough of this diaper changing business. Let's design parks!
Dog parks have fences, often double ones at the entrance / exit. It's really hard for the dogs to escape. I jokingly suggested to my friend bethanylara that I take LEG to a dog park for safe play so I can spend less time retrieving her from the woods and parking lots around playgrounds when I've been distracted by my own shiny object and lost sight of her for 0.5 seconds. What followed was a grand discussion on how playgrounds should be designed. We've clearly missed our calling in life. Enough of this diaper changing business. Let's design parks!
She and I collaborated on parts of this post. Add your ideas in the comments below. We'll get corporate sponsors to make them happen with Parks & Rec, make millions on the admission we'll charge to the playgrounds, and take full credit for your ideas along with our own. Everyone wins! Even you. You'll get to use these amazing parks.
1. Fences. Everywhere. No chance for escape. Play areas will be fenced and separated by age / type of equipment. The gate at the main entrance will be self closing and wide enough to accommodate a double stroller.
There will lots of fences. Just not quite like this.
1. Fences. Everywhere. No chance for escape. Play areas will be fenced and separated by age / type of equipment. The gate at the main entrance will be self closing and wide enough to accommodate a double stroller.
2 Once you enter the gate, you'll cross a lazy river via footbridge. The lazy river is kind of like a moat, only better. There aren't any alligators in our lazy river.
3. The next layer in is a track, so adults can work out while the kids play. Many gyms have fitness classes for children, so the kids can work out while their parents do. Why not make this happen outside, too?
4. Next in are the kid play areas. The big kid equipment is fenced off from the little kid area. There's a paved bike riding area and a small spray ground. Giant shade sails to break up the sun on play areas. They'll be easily removable for the winter months, when the sun will heat up the playground and extend outdoor play season.
5. Overhead misting fans that come on for about a minute every 30 minutes or so. Temperature and humidity sensitive, so they only come on in hot and humid conditions.
6. Color coded sweep zones under the swings. Color coded sweep zones around the gates between play areas, so kids know where they're more likely to get bumped.
7. In the center of the park is an elevated snack bar with pavilion. Adult friendly beverages and kid friendly snacks. Adults can take a break from the track and enjoy a latte with their friends while the kids continue playing. Kids can enjoy water and sliced fresh fruit cups or cheese cubes to fuel their playground adventures. And the occassional cracker. (Crackers are currently LEG's most requested food, and I can't imagine going a day without hearing that request at least 17 dozen times.)
8. Bathrooms will be located alongside or under the pavilion so facilities can be reached without a safari style trek (complete with energy bars and CamelBaks) across the parking lot with every member of the family in tow. Older children can even use them alone! Or, be left to continue playing while a parent takes a young one in for a diaper change, on a perpetually clean changing table.
9. Recycled rubber mulch. Much easier to get out of kids' shoes than wood mulch.
10. Built from a blend of recycled and new materials. There's a great park made from recycled tires near our home. There's too much plastic in this world. Let's keep some of it out of the landfill by not manufacturing it to begin with. Given all our our requirements above, a park built entirely from recycled materials isn't practical, but surely could be integrated into some of it.
3. The next layer in is a track, so adults can work out while the kids play. Many gyms have fitness classes for children, so the kids can work out while their parents do. Why not make this happen outside, too?
4. Next in are the kid play areas. The big kid equipment is fenced off from the little kid area. There's a paved bike riding area and a small spray ground. Giant shade sails to break up the sun on play areas. They'll be easily removable for the winter months, when the sun will heat up the playground and extend outdoor play season.
5. Overhead misting fans that come on for about a minute every 30 minutes or so. Temperature and humidity sensitive, so they only come on in hot and humid conditions.
6. Color coded sweep zones under the swings. Color coded sweep zones around the gates between play areas, so kids know where they're more likely to get bumped.
7. In the center of the park is an elevated snack bar with pavilion. Adult friendly beverages and kid friendly snacks. Adults can take a break from the track and enjoy a latte with their friends while the kids continue playing. Kids can enjoy water and sliced fresh fruit cups or cheese cubes to fuel their playground adventures. And the occassional cracker. (Crackers are currently LEG's most requested food, and I can't imagine going a day without hearing that request at least 17 dozen times.)
8. Bathrooms will be located alongside or under the pavilion so facilities can be reached without a safari style trek (complete with energy bars and CamelBaks) across the parking lot with every member of the family in tow. Older children can even use them alone! Or, be left to continue playing while a parent takes a young one in for a diaper change, on a perpetually clean changing table.
9. Recycled rubber mulch. Much easier to get out of kids' shoes than wood mulch.
10. Built from a blend of recycled and new materials. There's a great park made from recycled tires near our home. There's too much plastic in this world. Let's keep some of it out of the landfill by not manufacturing it to begin with. Given all our our requirements above, a park built entirely from recycled materials isn't practical, but surely could be integrated into some of it.
What did we miss?
I really like the idea of snacks and lounge chairs. Can there be a heated soundproof room too, like the Jump Yard had? :)
ReplyDeleteSoundproof? Why haven't I been to Jump Yard yet?
DeleteOmg I love this!!! I'm in:)
ReplyDeleteIn? As in inside the fence? Perfect. I'll be just outside the fence, selling annual passes and collecting daily admission fees
Delete