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If it feels like today’s children have become ‘softer’ than we were in our day, it could be because playgrounds themselves have softened up. Literally. Hard blacktop has been replaced by softer alternatives like wood chips, rubber mulch, and sand. There are even organizations dedicated to making sure every detail is precise, like ensuring the sand is ‘playground-grade’ or that the recycled rubber is lead-free.
Thanks to state regulations and personal injury lawyers, the typical playground has evolved significantly, creating a safer and more ‘educationally stimulating’ environment. But, perhaps, those rugged play areas from the past taught us early on that life can be tough and unforgiving. Back then, the only thing Mom would say was, “If you fall and break your neck, don’t come crying to me!” If you ever wore your stitches or a plaster cast like a badge of honor after a fall from the monkey bars, then you might also remember some of the playground equipment that's slowly vanishing from our parks. (Sure, you might still find some versions of them, but let's be honest—they just don’t make them like they used to.)
1. The Merry-Go-Round
The goal was to get the merry-go-round spinning so fast that kids were sent flying off, one by one. The last person hanging on was declared the ‘winner.’ And to really push the limits, you didn’t sit calmly in one of the ‘seats’—you stood, or climbed onto the bars, or found some other dangerous position to test your courage.
2. See-Saws
Whether you call them see-saws or teeter-totters, the ones from my elementary school and local park were a different breed. They were made of wood, with splinters and peeling paint. They were also quite tall and placed on hard blacktop. I recall a girl from my second-grade class breaking her collarbone when her playmate pulled the old ‘I’ll hop off while you’re up in the air’ trick.
3. Metal Slides
Those tall, metal slides of the past are being swapped for plastic ones, and to meet safety standards, their height and slope are now much more limited. There was something unforgettable about racing down a metal slide in a skirt or shorts after it had been baking in the sun all day. The sharp metal edges sometimes scraped you when the seams began to separate, and without side rails, it was easy to flip over the side during the descent (like when the heel of your sneaker caught and sent you flying). Clever kids brought wax paper from home to sit on, speeding up their descent.
4. Witch’s Hat
This was another piece of equipment that taught us the wonders of G-forces. Kids would gather around the edge of the ring, grab onto it, and start running faster and faster. Eventually, the thing would spin so quickly that your body was lifted off the ground, leaving you flying almost horizontally. It was pure fun—until someone lost their lunch.
5. Metal or Wooden Swings
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Swing seats nowadays are made from vandal-resistant rubber or similar coated materials. Gone are the thick steel or wooden seats that left you with chipped teeth when you got them just right. The chains no longer have open S loops and are often coated with vinyl... no more orange palms from gripping rusty chains. Plus, the swingsets are much shorter now, which takes away the thrill of leaping from the seat when you’re at the highest point of your swing.
6. Giant Stride
Preservation in Pink
Much like the Witch’s Hat, but with individual hanging pieces that caused the slower kids to get knocked into, or perhaps collide with, the central pole.
7. Horizontal Ladder/Monkey Bars
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At my school, the horizontal ladder was made of metal and hung above asphalt. Blistered hands were the inevitable outcome of crossing, especially on hot days. When the safety monitor wasn’t watching, we had ‘dog fights’—one person started from each end, met in the middle, and kicked and flailed their feet, trying to knock each other off the bars.
8. Geodesic Dome
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The truly daring kids would climb inside this structure, ending up upside-down at the top and then continuing head-first until they reached the other side. And when the bell rang to signal the end of recess, if you happened to be at the top or near it, you saved time by jumping straight down. Because only the cautious bothered to climb down carefully when every second counted.
8. Tetherball
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Due to the risk of getting hit in the face and the constant stream of broken or jammed fingers from kids striking the pole instead of the ball, this game is slowly disappearing from public playgrounds.
10. Still Rings
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Metal rings hanging from long chains are now considered a safety risk. Perhaps this is because kids used to do things like sit atop the rings and swing into each other, or hang upside down from them by their feet.
11. Animal Springers
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Or whatever they were properly called. These days, they’re all made of lightweight plastic with coated springs. But the original ones were crafted from solid steel, as was the coil underneath. Heavy-duty fun for everyone!
Please share your best playground memories: broken bones, sprained fingers, and all!
