Science Museum of Minnesota

Way back in the summer we went to Minneapolis. We stopped off at the Science Museum and explored this great new museum along the Mississippi River.

In their temporary-under-construction exhibit area was a Geometry exhibit. In there, was this:



This is one of the new structures put out by Landscape Structures (also based in Minneapolis). Pretty cool as it is, but put it into a building where you don't expect it and WAY COOL!!

Hmm. . . putting something in a playground that you wouldn't expect to be there and it makes it that much better. That's an idea.

Another Missing one

AND THIS ONE IN MY HOMEBASE of Salem!!


Mary Jane Playground
This playground is located in the Point Neighborhood on the corner of Prince St. and Palmer St. It's a medium to large. modular playground that has some fun stuff. The only problem is it has a lot of trash strewn about, and some of it glass. There's also vandalism and graffiti on some of the equipment.

There are a lot of nice picnic tables, most of them in the shade, a blacktop, and basketball court. Best of all, a drinking fountain.

The community has been doing a great job with keeping this park in the best condition they can, but it still can use some more help.

Rating: TWO STARS (out of five)

Playground Injury

Last May, a child at Center School Elementary, Peabody, fell from a playground slide and severely broke his arm. This has spurred an increase in playground training in the Peabody school system.

A good thing, and one that is suppose to be in place at all schools anyways.

Salem Common

Okay. So it has been awhile since I have posted anything. But here is sometehing.

I've mentioned this committee before. It is one that formed to help create a new playground at the Salem Common. Here's the present tot lot:


Simple and clean, old wooden structure with what looks like- appropriately although maybe not be appropriate - a gallow, a slide and some swings. There used to be some wooden benches around that MASSIVE, shady maple tree but they were falling apart and had to take them away. They just recently put in the wood chips. It used to be small stones . . . not the best for mouthy tots.

Anywhoo, the committee is having a raffle on October 30th, with all proceeds to benefit the new playground that they hope to have installed sometime in Spring 2008.

Details:
Ticket cost $20, Drawing will take place at 6 p.m. on October 30 at
the Common. You do not need to be present to win.

First prize: 32" LCD high-def. wall-mountable television
Second prize: 2 nights at the Salem Inn
Third Prize: one year membership to BJ's

Contact Katya for tickets: katyusha@comcast.net

What are the plans for the new playground? I don't know yet but will try and find out.

Pratt School in Minneapolis

Here's another one. This is at Pratt School, also in Southeast Minneapolis. The manufacturer is my favorite, Kompan. They have such unique structures. We've been to this one before and it used to have this giant web strung between the two structures. Unfortunately, it is now gone. Oh oh.

The other notable thing about this playground is the ground cover. They have layed down a layer of that fancy chopped-up-rubber-tire stuff. Very cool.


Rating: Three stars