Telephone Poles— Tires—Chains—Bolts— Creative Playgrounds

by William E. Grainger

Playgrounds play a major role in every Park District and City Recreation Agency throughout the United States. Therefore, their design should not be taken lightly. Too many of our public play areas in general are duplicated from area to area in a monotony of stereotyped equipment. The commercial play equipment designed today seems like it is made to catch the eye of adults rather than their children.

We, as Directors, Superintendents and Recreators, buy this high priced commercial equipment because we can design a whole play area by merely placing an order. Where has all our creative ability gone? Are we, as creative thinkers, becoming so overwhelmed in commercial equipment that we do not want to spend the time or energy or our unique talents to design and construct creative play areas with child-oriented rationing in mind?

Country Club Hills Park District has taken the time, energy and talent to develop a creative play area with child-oriented rationing in mind and stayed away from commercial play equipment altogether in this area.

This creative play area with its unusual equipment such as worn out truck and car tires, old telephone poles and an assortment of other items make a creative haven for children. The unusual equipment helps in the development of creativity. It encourages children and adults to imagine what the telephone poles in a circle with tires are supposed to be ... a swing ... an octopus ... or a giant spider? Only the individual playing on this piece of equipment can tell you.

On other playgrounds throughout the country, old shopping carts are now swings, oil drums have been cut down, painted and used as a boat, a cradle and trucks. Tunnel slides are being built that will hold the whole gang so everyone can slide down at once. Old telephone spools can be used as tables and hideouts. A cargo net may inspire a child to climb a mountain or pretend he is in the army going over the ship's side to get into a boat to advance to the beach. Tires bolted together can become a donut tunnel, a knights castle or a bouncer. Leaving the imagination up to the participant playing on this equipment builds creative character and imagination within the individual. It also is fun and they help children to grow. Climbing, jumping and balancing develop muscles and coordination.

I am aware we are not the first Park District to develop an area such as this, but, we are one of the few that can see the importance of saving money and using our talents as recreators and creative thinkers in developing an area where an astronomical amount of imagination will take place.

(Editor's note: There are several problems associated with playgrounds of this type—public relations and safety the two most prominent. The homeowners surrounding the park in which the "Creative Playground" is to be placed should be consulted. The author indicated that in Country Club Hills a small scale model of the playground was constructed and presented to the homeowners for approval.

Safety is of utmost concern. In the construction of your own playground, rigid safety standards should be followed.

Mr. Grainger is the former Superintendent of Parks and Recreation with the Country Club Hills Park District.)

Illinois Parks and Recreation 12 March/April, 1975