Why are Canadian playgrounds so 1950s retro?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Old playgrounds were a lot more fun, I will say. A nice slick metal slide, real jungle gyms, see-saws, merry go rounds.

+1

I'll bet Canadians aren't as lawsuit happy as American's are. I played on all of the above as a kids, didn't have rubber or even mulch below it and survived.

Our elementary school had a tall set of monkey bars bolted to the asphalt. In retrospect, it's amazing that I can only think of one kid who broke his arm on that thing.

You're right, though, that plastic slides can't compare to the speed you get on a good polished-metal slide. Of course, they also can't match the pain of bare legs hitting one of those things on a sunny day in mid-summer!

Cabin John has a short metal slide. My kids have learned to tuck their legs up when they slide. However, that didn't keep my 5 year old from splitting his chin open on the edge a few days ago when he tried to climb up it. Probably wouldn't have happened on a plastic slide. Ah well. We've all been there and I get to test out my dermatologist's recommendation to keep it moist and covered to avoid scarring.

Lord help us- please don’t have the playground shut down..

[Anonymous]

So OP went to one playground in one province in Canada and this is the post we get? Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kind of funny because I think this area (I'm in NOVA) has crummy parks compared to where I'm from in Florida. We had tons and tons of great parks, splash pads and creative play places. Even clemijontri or the water mine can't compare at all.

Agree. When we visit Florida I notice many nice playgrounds and public pools and children's museums.

I also agree. DS was born in Florida and I miss all those creative playgrounds and splashpads.

[Anonymous]

We are in florida now and the playgrounds here are amazing. Used to be in DC, and the playgrounds there are decent and hit or miss. Family in canada and the playgrounds are mixed - some new and some super old retro, metal slides, etc that you don't see in DC and certainly not in Florida.

My theories that explain the slowness in updating canadian playgrounds:

- weather: Playgrounds are used less of the year than in DC, and certainly less than florida. Florida has amazing playgrounds with awesome splash pads all over the place, because they legitimately get used year round. In DC, we used our playground for a solid 9 months of the year. So long as there is no snow, you can use the playground for much of the year in DC because it's not unusual to have 40' weather in December. But there are 4-5 months in canada where you're not using the playground - just too cold.

- Playgrounds last longer in canada - because they're used less of the year, and because the elements wear them down less. Playgrounds in florida basically disintegrate in the weather here. In Canada, you've got metal playgrounds from 1975 that are still in decent shape. Those things would have rusted through to nothing in florida. So why replace the canadian ones.

- Less torts and lawsuits in canada. Need i say more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are in florida now and the playgrounds here are amazing. Used to be in DC, and the playgrounds there are decent and hit or miss. Family in canada and the playgrounds are mixed - some new and some super old retro, metal slides, etc that you don't see in DC and certainly not in Florida.

My theories that explain the slowness in updating canadian playgrounds:

- weather: Playgrounds are used less of the year than in DC, and certainly less than florida. Florida has amazing playgrounds with awesome splash pads all over the place, because they legitimately get used year round. In DC, we used our playground for a solid 9 months of the year. So long as there is no snow, you can use the playground for much of the year in DC because it's not unusual to have 40' weather in December. But there are 4-5 months in canada where you're not using the playground - just too cold.

- Playgrounds last longer in canada - because they're used less of the year, and because the elements wear them down less. Playgrounds in florida basically disintegrate in the weather here. In Canada, you've got metal playgrounds from 1975 that are still in decent shape. Those things would have rusted through to nothing in florida. So why replace the canadian ones.

- Less torts and lawsuits in canada. Need i say more.

Florida is boiling HOT most of the year. I can guarantee you there are no kids at your neighborhood playground right now. Maybe in January or February. But most months? No.

[Anonymous]

Funny - I just got back from BC and the elementary school playground we went to was FAR nicer than my DD's school playground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Generalizing much? I work in a poor neighborhood in Montreal and here's what the three closest playgrounds look like. So glad our arrondissement started using German and Danish design for our playing infrastructure instead of the traditional plastic play structures.

That parent/kid combo swing is so cool!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in florida now and the playgrounds here are amazing. Used to be in DC, and the playgrounds there are decent and hit or miss. Family in canada and the playgrounds are mixed - some new and some super old retro, metal slides, etc that you don't see in DC and certainly not in Florida.

My theories that explain the slowness in updating canadian playgrounds:

- weather: Playgrounds are used less of the year than in DC, and certainly less than florida. Florida has amazing playgrounds with awesome splash pads all over the place, because they legitimately get used year round. In DC, we used our playground for a solid 9 months of the year. So long as there is no snow, you can use the playground for much of the year in DC because it's not unusual to have 40' weather in December. But there are 4-5 months in canada where you're not using the playground - just too cold.

- Playgrounds last longer in canada - because they're used less of the year, and because the elements wear them down less. Playgrounds in florida basically disintegrate in the weather here. In Canada, you've got metal playgrounds from 1975 that are still in decent shape. Those things would have rusted through to nothing in florida. So why replace the canadian ones.

- Less torts and lawsuits in canada. Need i say more.

Florida is boiling HOT most of the year. I can guarantee you there are no kids at your neighborhood playground right now. Maybe in January or February. But most months? No.

DP, but the playground in my parents neighborhood in Orlando is covered. There are trees around and the play area has a mesh covering under the trees. If it is raining lightly, then you don't feel the rain and it keeps some shade and the direct sunlight off of the play equipment. It has mixed metal and plastic equipment and is updated. My kids have gone there in the heat of summer and it's 10 degrees or so cooler than out in the sunlight and we have enjoyed the playground equipment there without any problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generalizing much? I work in a poor neighborhood in Montreal and here's what the three closest playgrounds look like. So glad our arrondissement started using German and Danish design for our playing infrastructure instead of the traditional plastic play structures.

That parent/kid combo swing is so cool!

There's one at Quincy Park near Ballston. Personally I get sick when I swing so it's not my favorite haha.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generalizing much? I work in a poor neighborhood in Montreal and here's what the three closest playgrounds look like. So glad our arrondissement started using German and Danish design for our playing infrastructure instead of the traditional plastic play structures.

That parent/kid combo swing is so cool!

Yes, these are very popular right now.

That playground is actually my favorite one. There's a community garden backing on to it and the elderly people hand out fruits and vegetables to children through the fence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generalizing much? I work in a poor neighborhood in Montreal and here's what the three closest playgrounds look like. So glad our arrondissement started using German and Danish design for our playing infrastructure instead of the traditional plastic play structures.



That parent/kid combo swing is so cool!

There's one at Hidden Pond Nature Center, and I've seen a few others around the VA burbs. Usually I see older and younger siblings in them rather than parents and kids.