Compare and Contrast: Outdoor Play Part 2

Alrighty then, now we will explore free outdoor play places. As in, parks. Hold onto your helmets, because we have some wicked cool playground equipment to show you.

This little gem is tricky in that it requires outside assistance to get it going. However, a good push without proper forethought sends the next tire in the sequence willy-nilly into the pusher, resulting in the pusher face first in the dirt. None of you will ask how I know this because it is blatantly obvious.

This particularly piece of equipment is great fun, although best when early or late in the day, or on a cool sort of day. The tires get hot in the sun.

This equipment is designed for older children and children aspiring to be tightrope walkers. Tom and Hope can both climb up to the platforms, but even Tom is too short to use the hand grip to walk across the wire. Witness the excellent effort below. It's a long way down, though, so discretion being the better part of valor, he has decided to wait and see if he is tall enough by spring. I'd wager he will be.

And, because I am the generous sort, and because I am sure you want to know how this thing works, I will demonstrate for you. 

See? Easy and très kewl.

Next up we have the slide. This puppy is fast. The photo is not clear, but the area around the slide is lined with tires, presumably to cushion your fall should you get flung out on one of the curves. The thing is fairly slick, so if you happen to be wearing a pair of nylon basketball shorts on your first ride, hang onto your hat. And maybe even your head.

Ah, and now my favorite: the zip line. Dang, I love this thing.

Does the zip line make my bum look big?

Double your pleasure, double your fun. And if you are wondering if this went south ...

...yes, it did. She live to ride another day.

Tom and I had a long discussion around the topic of "liability" while we were dusting Hope off. Interesting topic; I was trying to remember if I had ever seen play equipment this intensely awesome in the US. Of course my playground experiences in the US were with tiny children, so even if zip lines were de rigueur, they would have been outside of my immediate frame of reference.

 
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, this is probably the children's fan favorite. I know, what could better than the zip line?? But, you would have to see this thing in action to fully appreciate its glory.   

You see those two brown blocks? If you are tall and strong enough, you can drag the swing aalllll the way up there. And then leap. Holy. Guacamole.

Please note that the girlfriend chose to wear helmet. Not that I could blame her.

In summation, awesome fun can be had by all ages in Europe. With not a castle in sight.

Comments

[Gwynna]

RIGHTEOUS!!

"None of you will ask how I know this because it is blatantly obvious." - poor Jeff. When will he ever learn?

There has been an explosion in specific-use playground equipment here, including those kind of zip lines and tightrope setups. I have to admit, though, I miss the basic silver-set-of-pipes, on which you could bash your teeth, fall in an untold number of ways, and use your IMAGINATION to play on them. I'm just really not a fan of one-way-to-play equipment. I know, litigation. And being "inviting." I mean, kids shouldn't have to THINK to play, should they? (not your kids, obviously, as I am quite sure they are perfectly capable of making a grand day out of set-of-metal-pipes.)

They DO make pretty awesome looking playgrounds. And that slide and swing are beyond cool. :)

[Debbie Hanson]

I have nothing clever to add.....but wanted you to know that I can not help laughing every time I think about the 'pusher' doing a face plant. Carry on!

[lynne s of oz]

Awesome! I want some! Kids' play equipment in Oz is exactly that. It's too small for big kids like me (though it is funny when I sit on the elephant on a spring and it slowly falls over sideways).

[Monica]

Brave children!

[Outdoor Fitness Equipments]

Great! outdoor play are actually needed, as in today's scenario many kids spend their lot of time in front of TV which is not good for their health, they need outside activities, sunshine and fresh air.