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.
They forgot this one: “No being a kid.”
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.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Liability insurance. 😎
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. =)
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…”
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?
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.
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?
I remember when Laura Baker School had a bunch of these at their playground. Or similer ones.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-GAMETIME-SaddleMate-Pony-Swing-Playground-Toy_W0QQitemZ160118948084QQihZ006QQcategoryZ732QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
here it is:
http://www.luckyoliver.com/photo/2553061/old_scary_clown_swing
and variations:
http://www.intergate.com/~rwellens/wellenstock/source_ak/ak_2_14.html
http://photos.welfy.com/pearsonpark02/clowny
wow, you actually found a picture of one. i’ve been looking and all i came up with was tire swings or regular swings.
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!
Haha! Alex i like your humor.