Firebug Mentality

The Playground of Possibilities was made of all recycled materials, but both the rubber safety surfacing and plastic wood structures are petroleum-based and thus very combustible.

What is it with burning playground equipment?

After just reading about another “typical” playground arson—a slide set afire Nov. 16 at a Richmond, Calif. elementary school, immolating the slide and some surrounding play-structure equipment—we read about the Playground of Possibilities at Bexley Park in South Euclid, Ohio burning to the ground the night of Nov. 1, 2010. A clear case of arson, the all-accessible community playground was built with about $250,000 in community donations. An army of volunteers built the playground over the course of a week in September 2008.

A park surveillance camera at Bexley captured images of the people who may be responsible.

A $5,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the culprits in Ohio.

The spiral slide was reportedly the first item observed on fire.

South Euclid Mayor Georgine Welo promised the playground would be rebuilt.