Why are there not playgrounds at rest stops?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
In France, my home country, there is a restaurant (or multiple restaurants) and a playground at every full-service rest stop, and there are many more of these rest stops per unit of distance than in the US.

I used to drive to Pennsylvania rather often at one point, and the rest stop we used has a playground, pet spot and vending machines. It's true that it's not typical of US rest stops.

The difference is that France decided long ago to create an ecosystem along the "autoroute" (highway) that would allow users to never leave the highway, so that they could get to their destination more rapidly and with greater ease. The rest stops are owned and operated by the highway operator, in partnership with certain chains of restaurants. It's in that operator's interest to make the stops as comfortable as it can.

The US did not develop such a plan, and therefore users of interstates or similar need to leave the road and look for their own accommodation or food or entertainment, except when a state decides to create a nice rest stop, perhaps at a border, or scenic outlook or historical location.

Rest stops are for truckers and hookers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm totally overprotective I admit it, but I don't go to playgrounds anywhere near highways. Too easy for someone to snatch a kid and be gone in a flash.

How many times has this happened in America in the last decade?

[Anonymous]

I've never seen a rest stop with a playground-I'm an East Coast gal . I would think it is too much traffic and like another PP, I'd think about abductions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm totally overprotective I admit it, but I don't go to playgrounds anywhere near highways. Too easy for someone to snatch a kid and be gone in a flash.

How many times has this happened in America in the last decade?

I admitted I was overprotective! Stranger abduction is very rare. That being said, in NJ a five year old girl was snatched from a playground just last October.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's one at the South Mountain rest stop on I-70 in Md. But generally they are just to go to the bathroom and get a snack.

This one came in handy once. There was a three hour shut / slow down one summer (maybe an accident?), and I happened to be close enough to stop in there with my toddler and 4yo. I pack for activity bag rest stops but was pleasantly surprised by the playground. it was so great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's one at the South Mountain rest stop on I-70 in Md. But generally they are just to go to the bathroom and get a snack.

They actually pulled it out for the pandemic. It's not there anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm totally overprotective I admit it, but I don't go to playgrounds anywhere near highways. Too easy for someone to snatch a kid and be gone in a flash.

How many times has this happened in America in the last decade?

I admitted I was overprotective! Stranger abduction is very rare. That being said, in NJ a five year old girl was snatched from a playground just last October.

And it doesn’t matter how rarely something happens if your family is one of the few it happens to. That’s why we educate ourselves and take precautions.

[Anonymous]

That would be awful. We stop at rest stops to get in and out as quick as possible. I don’t want to deal with a whiny 5 year old begging to play while we’re trying to get to our destination...

[Anonymous]

They had this in Japan. Was awesome.

[Anonymous]

I’m from the south. Many rest stops throughout the south have playgrounds.

[Anonymous]

There is an app that shows fast food places with play spaces (I think most of them are McDonalds). Most are not the typical rest stops like you see on the NJ Turnpike though- they require exiting and driving a mile or two

[Anonymous]

Rest stops are crowded as it is. If the average stop time became any more prolonged, it would be impossible other motorists to get in and out.

When we needed a longer break, we would get off the highway and fine a local park or elementary school, easy enough to do now with an online search. Back when my kids were little, we had them marked on an old AAA Triptik for the 500 mile trip to grandma’s house that we took several times a year. Yes, I’m old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see people walking their children and pets around the grassy areas of rest stops. Why were playgrounds not incorporated into the design of rest areas?

They are there for people to use the bathroom not recreation. Why do you think the rest of the world gives a damn about whether your kids need a walk. We don't. They are your problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rest stops are crowded as it is. If the average stop time became any more prolonged, it would be impossible other motorists to get in and out.

When we needed a longer break, we would get off the highway and fine a local park or elementary school, easy enough to do now with an online search. Back when my kids were little, we had them marked on an old AAA Triptik for the 500 mile trip to grandma’s house that we took several times a year. Yes, I’m old.

Now that I think about it, I think you are right and this is the main reason.

[Anonymous]

(1) Crowding -- generally, there is limited parking/space at rest stops, and they don't want people lingering.
(2) Maintenance -- they don't want to pay for cleaning, repairs, etc.
(3) Liability -- they don't want to get sued when some kid hurts himself on the equipment.