New York City Introduces Adult Playgrounds: Brilliant or Bad Idea?
SodaHead Living
2012/07/01 16:16:00
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New York City has adopted yet another initiative to improve health and reduce obesity. At least this one doesn’t involve banning soda.
Over the next 18 months, as many as 24 adult-only playground are set to open across the five boroughs. They won’t have swings or slides—they are essentially outdoor gyms—but they will maintain the look and feel of traditional kid’s play spaces. (In some cases, the equipment will be built by the same manufacturers.)
While outdoor fitness areas have recently been gaining popularity in the US, they have long been commonplace in China and parts of Europe. New York City has been testing the concept at Macombs Dam Park in the Bronx, and so far it has been incredibly successful.
Unlike gyms, these adult playgrounds are free to use and they are able to pass exercise off as play. And from the city’s perspective, they are much cheaper to build than children’s playgrounds.However, we have to wonder if these parks will end up serving the people who need them the most or if they’ll just be overrun by gym rats.
Bus driver Daren Trapp, an observer at Macombs Dam Park, told The New York Times, “Oh no, I’m past my prime. It’s out in the open, and I guess I’m a private individual.”
What do you think SodaHeads? Are adult playgrounds brilliant or a bad idea?
Over the next 18 months, as many as 24 adult-only playground are set to open across the five boroughs. They won’t have swings or slides—they are essentially outdoor gyms—but they will maintain the look and feel of traditional kid’s play spaces. (In some cases, the equipment will be built by the same manufacturers.)
While outdoor fitness areas have recently been gaining popularity in the US, they have long been commonplace in China and parts of Europe. New York City has been testing the concept at Macombs Dam Park in the Bronx, and so far it has been incredibly successful.
Unlike gyms, these adult playgrounds are free to use and they are able to pass exercise off as play. And from the city’s perspective, they are much cheaper to build than children’s playgrounds.However, we have to wonder if these parks will end up serving the people who need them the most or if they’ll just be overrun by gym rats.
Bus driver Daren Trapp, an observer at Macombs Dam Park, told The New York Times, “Oh no, I’m past my prime. It’s out in the open, and I guess I’m a private individual.”
What do you think SodaHeads? Are adult playgrounds brilliant or a bad idea?
Read More: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/nyregion/new-yor...
Top Opinion
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Bibliophilic 2012/07/01 17:34:57Bad Idea
+16I'd like them if they were actual playgrounds. An actual adult sized playground would be amazing. I have no interest in working out at a gym in the heat of the day. It is a good idea perhaps, but I just want to be able to play on an adult sized Discovery Zone!
Furthermore, is more likely that these places will be overrun with alpha wankers who like to show off in public ( Think Muscle Beach ) and not the intended demographic - fat folks.
btw - Yes, I work out. But I do so to make me feel good, not to make the morbidly obese feel insecure.
If you have fun you don't feel like you're working out, even though you're climbing and runnning around, so maybe make a real PLAYground for adults? With obstacle course items, large dome (monkey bar style) and... tall slides (haha). Definitely made with large tires, they're always the best.
I love playgrounds.
Its cool to be around 20s and having the parents young :) But i can understand people that have a baby almost at 40; they just make sure they are stable finnancially before deciding to be parents.
in 2008, when the belt-tightening began, the gym membership was probably among the first things to bite the dust - so those "gym rats" can get their fixes again.
and, who knows, even the occasional sloth may try a jungle gym here, a monkey bar there, and a new habit may be born. stranger things have happened . . . .
Those who are going to exercise are going to exercise, whether there's an outdoor "gym" or not. Whether it's free or not.
It's a little gimmicky in my opinion.
I hope it's not a waste of money but I just think the novelty will wear off and they won't get the use the city is hoping for. Simply my opinion based on experience.