Cohousing-L Mailing List: Play Structure at Cambridge Cohousing

[Peg Blum (pegb]

This is a response to Carol Singleton of Oak Creek Commons (CA) and others who 
might be interested.

This play structure was purchased in 1998, largely with the proceeds from the 
warranty residents had on the original bought for their daughter in 1990.  The 
remaining costs for the structure and the surface material were covered by 
donations from parents and other community members.

It is structurally sound.  The blue canvas pieces merely tie on, and are 
designed so that kids can move them around as they like.  Right now, one or 
more ties are missing and can probably be replaced or if that piece of fabric 
is damaged, a replacement can be ordered for a few dollars.

One swing has broken ropes, which have nothing to do with the integrity of the 
structure.  The plastic ropes finally gave out from being coiled up so many 
times for spinning purposes.  New swings (and ropes) can be bought almost 
anywhere, from Cedarworks or not.  One parent is about to do that.

It is a CedarWorks structure, made of untreated cedar, and has a 10-yr 
warranty.  I would not hesitate to recommend the company to another group.  
Obviously ours gets tremendous use, and the kids enjoy it, which is the real 
test.

Every few years we have replaced the wood chips, which we chose after some 
research and cost comparisons, to put on the surface below the structure.  That 
seems to have worked well.

A picture of the play structure when it was new appears on our website (without 
the blue canvas piece).

Peg Blum
Cambridge Cohousing (MA)

pegb [at] cambridgecohousing.org
http://www.cambridgecohousing.org