I'm headed soon to Toronto for a scientific conference, and doing some googling to find any playgrounds I'd like to visit, but apparently not...in June of 2000 one hundred and seventy two school playgrounds in Toronto were razed. It cost the city seven hundred thousand dollars for demolition, with replacement costs estimated at a staggering $27.5 million. But the playgrounds had been deemed 'unsafe', no matter that no money had been allocated, or funds raised for replacements. The kids were sad, and the parents were mad.
Liability concerns run amuk...read the story of the war at taddlecreekmag.
An excerpt from the media response to the tear-downs:
“The only logical thing to do is have lawyers to design the playgrounds,” wrote...parent, Linwood Barclay, the Star’s humour columnist. “Here are some pieces of equipment our kids will soon be playing on,” he continued. “The Litigator Teeter-Totter: As soon as children get on the equipment, they are tied up in red tape so they won’t be thrown off… . The Paralegal Bars: Similar to parallel bars from which kids can hang, but with much lower standing. Children will have to scrunch down to get under them… . Contract Bridge: Before children can run across the hanging bridge that links one side of the climber to the other, they must sign a waiver… . The Remand Rink: Kids won’t fall and hit their heads on the ice here. At this rink, there’s always a sign that says it’s closed …”
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