I'm still thinking about the whole natural playground concept.
Though there will always be forward-thinkers out there, realistically, I think it's unreasonable to expect that the well-meaning people responsible for public playgrounds will suddenly switch to a completely different model than the one they've been working with. And liability issues will make them even more wary of new solutions. Even if they were to decide to make a change, what about all the existing playgrounds? I don't think even the most devoted natural playground advocates would suggest that they be discarded on a grand scale.
A simpler point of advocacy may be to focus on the inclusion/addition of natural ELEMENTS. A few logs and boulders, for example, can easily be added to the sea of woodchips that already surrounds most commercial play structures.
If they get a noticeable amount of playtime, well, any reasonable person could then add a sandpit edged with natural rocks. Or an earthen hill beside the sea of woodchips. Or a stump spiral.
The inclusion of natural elements is something for which parents could more easily advocate, or a group of parents even build, especially as an adjunct to an existing traditional playground. And perhaps by small steps they would lead to a better understanding and wider acceptance of a new type of playscape.
I'd especially like to see the big playground charities like Kaboom and Boundless Playgrounds, who support admirable but largely artificial work, facilitate the inclusion of natural elements.
[photos from the previously recommended flickrstream of Tim Gill]
No comments:
Post a Comment