Playground safety guidelines: over the top?

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The City of Northfield Public Works Department has put up these safety guideline signs at many of the public playgrounds in city parks. My favorite rules:

  • No bicycle helmets allowed
  • Bare feet may cause injuries
  • Standing on swings may cause injuries
  • No running or walking up slide

I’m really stumped on why a bicycle helmet is dangerous.

14 Comments

  1. Rob Hardy said:

    They forgot this one: “No being a kid.”

    May 25, 2007
  2. Kurt Larson said:

    Griff,
    I would guess a bike helmet and chin strap may become a choking hazard if a child were to get it hung up in something.

    I am just amazed that I acually survived my days as a child on the playground. To tell the truth my Mother tells of the time that I fell from the high slide an knocked myself out. That may explain a lot. Now that I think of it I do not know of any of the big steele giants left.

    May 25, 2007
  3. John S. Thomas said:

    Welcome to the wonderful world of Liability insurance. 😎

    May 25, 2007
  4. Gilly Wigley said:

    last i saw there’s one of the steele giants at the park just to the south of the big steer, on that frontage road.

    I will admit that with all the new safty precautions, they have been able to come up with some creative, fun new things to play with/on. but that still doesnt change the fact that i miss alot of the good stuff.

    teater totters
    merry-go-rounds
    push and pull swings
    original spring animals
    metal barrel slides
    metal slides in general
    tire swings
    tires to climb on/through
    the original wood equipment at greenvale school

    and my personal all time fave
    the old clown swing at riverside park!

    i know dad, that you always comlained about getting dizzy spinning me all the time. but you have to admit, it was good balance practice for when you got–*ahem* i mean get old and frail. =)

    May 25, 2007
  5. I think the helmets are a danger because the kids feel even more crazy with their helmets on – like the two de-boarded skateboarders who insisted on jumping off the bridge at the Central Park playground even though little kids (like my daughter) were buzzing back and forth under it.

    But honestly, does anyone really read the signs, much less abide by them? I’ll bet they’re there only so the city can say to a lawyer, “Well, we *did* say that…”

    May 25, 2007
  6. Jerry Bilek said:

    Gilly,

    the clown swing rocks! My daughter loved that thing. I hope it’s in storage or a museum somewhere rather than a landfill. I wonder if I could find one for my backyard? ebay?

    May 25, 2007
  7. Gilly Wigley said:

    I see what you’re saying Christopher. :Like when a business owner puts up signs in their parking lot that says “No skateboarding allowed.” Even though they have no problem with the skateboarders in their lot. Its only because they have to proove to their lawyer that they “tried”, in case any injury was to occur.

    May 25, 2007
  8. Gilly Wigley said:

    Ebay! Haha I would give almost anything to swing on that thing again! When you get one for your backyard, can I come over and use it?

    May 25, 2007
  9. Gilly Wigley said:

    wow, you actually found a picture of one. i’ve been looking and all i came up with was tire swings or regular swings.

    May 25, 2007
  10. Alex Beeby said:

    We should go global with signs like these:
    -“Driving may be dangerous” signs on the freeway.
    -“Living may be dangerous” signs at the hospital.
    -“Holding office may be hazardous to your image” signs at the capitol.
    -“Reading this sign may be bad for your eyes”

    What fun we could have!

    May 25, 2007
  11. Gilly Wigley said:

    Haha! Alex i like your humor.

    May 25, 2007

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