City Playgrounds Community Ownership Brings Change by Diana Nagler City playgrounds have always had a difficult time maintaining their original design. Through acts of vandalism and negligence, many of these playgrounds are unfit areas for children to utilize. However, studies have shown that if a community feels "ownership" towards their neighborhood playground, there is a reduced chance the site will deteriorate due to intentional destruction. "When you make a community feel that they've played a part of the construction, it's less likely that the area will be destroyed," said Kevin Owens of Playworld Systems. Manufacturers are now producing equipment that will help generate feelings of ownership for community playgrounds. Their intention is to lengthen the duration of the original equipment and design. Playworld Systems has developed a new line of equipment called CityScapes. The product line is specifically made to pass the endurance test of a big city. The playground equipment replaces traditional plastic components with vandal-resistant perforated steel panels, roofs, and crawl tubes. If necessary, the hardware can be constructed of up to 100% steel. The new double-banded clamps provide maximum fastening pressure and can only be removed with special tools. What makes CityScapes unique is the variety of more than 70 decorative icons that customize an individual playground to the particular location." The goal was to make the equipment vandalism proof without compromising the play value or visual appeal," said Owens. Each community can choose icons that are most applicable to their own city, thereby fostering a feeling of familiarity for people in the neighborhood. Once the specific icons are chosen, the playground can be further individualized by the variety of color options available. The theory behind the design is that connecting the visual theme of the play site, to the people who live in the area, will make it less likely to be vandalized. The CityScapes line of products have already been used for playgrounds in large cities, such as Brooklyn and Pittsburgh. The Brooklyn play area is located in a housing project called Independence Tower. The plaza contains icons that are specific to New York, such as the Statue of Liberty icon, the Helicopter icon, and the City Building icon. New York Housing Authority chose a color scheme that would fit into the motif of the surrounding area. "The colors that were chosen for the Brooklyn plaza are not too bold or bright," said Owens, adding, "which will make the equipment less of a target." While the Brooklyn play area contains a more subtle color scheme, the Pittsburgh playground uses stronger images. Pittsburgh Playground The City of Pittsburgh is in the process of renovating all of its playgrounds to meet current safety standards. The restoration process includes using modular units that will separate the equipment according to various age groups. The particular Pittsburgh location which contains CityScapes was chosen because the city wanted an area that would be easily accessible to contractors and donating parties. Since the playground was being renovated anyway, adding the new equipment presented a good opportunity to curb potential vandalism. The Pittsburgh playground has been in existence for approximately 40 years. It is located in the East Liberty section of the city, an old neighborhood that had suffered problems common to many inner-city communities. The area was last renovated in the 70's, and at the time of the CityScapes project, was undergoing a revitalization program. The area is part of a multi-functional location that includes a major parklet, a basketball court and new adjacent townhomes. In order to decorate the site appropriately, Landscape Architect Tom Olivi, selected icons which most appealed to his sense of design. The icons chosen include the Smiling Sun icon, the Crescent Moon icon, and icons showing butterflies, boats, and airplanes. The color scheme showcases bold and bright colors that stand out from the other amenities at the site. Olivo said he liked using the Playworld System modular units with the CityScapes line of equipment because it gives a Landscape Architect additional design options. The surface of the playground is a pour in place synthetic surface contracted by Happy Landing. This new surface replaced the previous cement flooring of the site. The lawn areas around the area and the existing trees at the site were supplemented with the planting of 6-7 additional trees. "We're trying to ensure the longevity of the equipment," said Owens, adding, "but at the same time, make sure that the equipment is appealing for children." As many manufacturers are now learning, the design and installation of the equipment can play an important role in the perseverance of the playground. LASN City Scapes equipment is constructed with 5" diameter steel posts and 48" perforated steel decks. The double-banded clamp provides maximum fastening pressure and can only be removed with special tools. The Brooklyn play site contains icons that are fitting to the particular neighborhood, such as the Statue of Liberty icon and the Taxicab con. CityScapes features over 70 icons available in different sizes and colors. The icons are made from 3/16" and 1/4" steel, and dipped in rust-proof solution soon after they are cut. The Pittsburgh playground features bold color schemes.