Salem Common Update 2

When we last left this story; after working on the design and planning of the Salem Common playground, Parents United of Salem had their design rejected by the Historical Commision and therefore delayed the opening of the playground for this year. Apparently the Commission did not approve of the color scheme and wanted a playground that reflected the history of Salem (ie. sailing, harbor?). Although the commission was invited to the playground process earlier, they opted to wait till final designs were established before commenting (note: no footnote here).

At the last Historical Commission meeting, a NEW, modified Landscape Structure design was presented and . . . approved (image below . . . not of the joyous P.U. of Salem members rejoicing, but of the new design).

The Historical Commission will return on September 3rd to discuss colors and flooring options further, but for the time being are allowed to promote the green/khaki color scheme.

Also at the meeting, City Counselor Mike Sosnowski was given pictures of the existing damages on our current playground. Counselor Sosnowski said he was not aware of these necessary repairs and he will see that they are fixed while waiting for the new playground.

The hope is have the new playground installed July 2009. Thanks to Kelly Fouhey for the recent update and image.

Stay tuned for more info . . .

Salem Common Update

First, I have been trying to get that image for the new design of the Salem Common playground and I have not been very successful. But now it seems, the image is moot.

I was at the common today and I was speaking with my neighbor down the street (I actually just met her . . . kind of sad really that she lived down the street and I have never met her until today) who was at the Parents United of Salem (P.U.S. . . unfortunate acronym) picnic, said that the Salem Common Neighborhood Historical Society suddenly decided to get involved and did not approve of the designs of the new playground. 

They wanted a Maritime theme or something and felt the green modular system was not appropriate. I think they have to start from scratch again. eeeeuuu

Salem Common

The Salem Common playground is still the same. BUT, it is being worked on. I've blogged about before, but I still haven't received a photo of the initial designs. 

Anyhoo, one thing they had done was to remove the broken benches from around the huge maple tree. Well, LUCKILY, they have replaced those benches and they look beautiful!

Thank goodness because that was the only good place to sit and watch your kids.

Ackerman Playground

Julie Z. who purchased a book through my web site also mentioned a great playground in Boxford. Robert M. Ackerman Playground. 

A view of the front entrance.

Very NICE! Similar design to Eagle Nest in Essex, and Action Cove in West Newbury. Mostly wood with lots of nooks and crannies to run and hide in. Althoug

h my now eight-year-old said that there are "not as many long tunnels."

A view from the side.

A view of the inside of the park.

A back view.

The playground is located off Dana road which is off Cahoon Road which is off Topsfield Road, which is Exit 52 on 95.

Well worth the visit.

Rating: Five stars

San Diego Playgrounds

Jennifer D. emailed me with this site for Playgrounds in San Diego County, California.

sdplaygrounds.com

So if you are in San Diego and need to know where some playgrounds are, check it out!

Failed Playdates

So I went to take pictures and see the new playground at the Carroll School in Peabody. I even made it a playdate with one of my son's friends. We went driving around to playgrounds that I needed to update.

Well, I went to the Carroll Savage Park and found that the playground was unchanged. That's because it's NOT the Carroll School, it's the South Memorial School. So we went to this other playground I needed to update, and that was the wrong one too.

All the bad memories from creating the guidebook the first time came rushing back to me. "Are we there yet?" "I'm hot." "I'm dying of thirst." increased by a third child.

Now I know where the Carroll School is, and I'm going to get the rotten picture. And you know what, I'm going to go by myself just in case I'm wrong and get lost . . . which is such a high likelyhood.

Good Beverly Kids

This is a bit older news, but Dylan (10 years old) and Logan (8 years old) Stevens have taken it upon themselves to clean up graffiti from Beverly's playgrounds, one playground at a time this summer.

The brother and sister team were shocked to find graffiti at Obear Park, near the Kernwood Bridge, and proceeded to clean it off with sponges and various cleaners. Beverly patrolman David Costa saw the good citizens and went and restocked their cleaning supplies for them.

The best part is, these kids have inspired others to do the same.

Thank you Dylan and Logan!!!

New Playground in Beverly Coming!

A new playground is planned for the North Beverly Elementary School. What will make this playground EXTRA special is that it will be the second in Beverly, the fourth on the North Shore, that is TOTALLY DISABILITY ACCESSIBLE.

It is said to be similar to structure at Ross Memorial Park in Peabody, below. 

The playground is being built by Boundless Playgrounds. A "national nonprofit dedicated to helping communities create extraordinary barrier-free playgrounds where children, with and without disabilities, can develop essential skills for life as they learn together through play." The playground is hoped to be installed by summer, 2009.

The playground is currently raising funds and tax-deductible donations can be sent to:

North Beverly Playground Fund

North Beverly Elementary School

48 Putnam St

Beverly, MA 01915

The Neo

Here's Play World Systems' newest 2008 addition, The Neo.

It's an oversized electronic game powered with 12 volts.. The Neo can be powered by solar energy, panels not included. 

Their reasoning for this giant-sized, light-up Simon: kids are playing video games indoors, let's have them play video games outdoors.

The Evo

Here's a  Landscape Structures new playground equipment design for 2008. It's called the EVO.

Here's a gallery of the structure

I have always been a HUGE fan of a specific playground manufacturer (and no, I do not get any endorsements from them), KOMPAN. They are not a HUGE player in the US market, but are getting there. But my point is, they have had this type of "freeform", creative play, structure for several years and I have raved about their ability to create unguided, creative play on their structures. My kids RAVE about them as well.

It seems the "big" playground structure companies are beginning to follow suit.

Very cool.