Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: play structure/natural playgrounds

[Elaine (itchyink]

Does your community have a soft surface that meets government standards
under your play structure? Looks like we are getting rid of our play
structure because it is almost $5000 to grade and put in the required mulch,
and not having the soft surface is a source of contention here. Worries of
injuries and lawsuits vs. the don't worry about it crowd. I have done a fair
amount of research and the injury/lawsuit worries seem pretty valid.
Unfortunately our common area is on quite a slope (with drainage problems)
so it makes the surface issue tricky. We are looking at natural playground
ideas to replace it. I have done a fair amount of research and there are
some interesting ideas that replace the standard play structure idea, like
boulders, something to climb on (rock wall, log, palisades or simple jungle
gym), a little house to hide in or climb on top of, shrubbery to hide in,
sand, water features, and more. Does anyone have interesting play features
that the kids like? Maybe with a great play space we could attract more kids
(although i think our indoor play spaces are great). Of course we need to
keep it cheap. But the studies say kids need earth, water, a place to hide,
a place to get up high and something to build to be happiest. Funny we have
to build this sort of environment when i grew up finding it all in the
nearby woods.
Elaine

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