Parks
vs Playgrounds
In
wondering why many parks do not offer active recreation, we found a
possible explanation.
While
playgrounds are standard features at many parks today, the parks and
playgrounds movements were actually
separate movements.
Historically
parks were places of passive recreation, you went to a park to view
nature and perhaps listen to music .
Link page 28
Playgrounds
developed separately. The playgrounds movement advocated active
recreation. The two movements parks and playgrounds were not always
on the same page...
“...its
spokesmen increasingly criticized park administrators for their
emphasis on preserving
natural landscapes, even when it meant severe restrictions on park
use, especially by children. One playground leader said that parks
were appropriately called urban “breathing spaces” because
“breathing was about all one was permitted to do in them” (Boyer,
pp. 244-245). .
(page 30
link)
In
looking at the activities (or lack of them) offered by some of our
parks, it seems that the schism between the two movements still
exists.
