This is the fourth part in a series looking at the newly-renovated playground in Cambridge Common and examining the concerns of parents and caregivers, particularly those with children in the "tot" age range that the former playground served.

I’ve addressed several issues with the new playground in the first three parts of this series. However, the points I've raised were more or less inconveniences.

Today’s post takes a look at two aspects of the park that are really safety concerns.

Blocks

Part of the inspiring creativity component is an extensive set of wooden blocks. The idea behind the blocks, per the planning presentation materials, is to “for kids to be able to work in small groups or individually to create their own structures and play experiences.”

That sounds great. Until, of course, you see the blocks – which are basically 2x4s, large wooden bricks and long, thin wooden cylinders several feet long.

One mother told me how she saw a little girl about 4 get whacked in the head with a large wooden brick. Needless to say, there was a fair amount of crying. On more than one occasion, I saw children throwing the blocks. It wasn’t in an intentional way, but just carelessly. Each time, the parents of toddlers would all but shield their children – or at least, wince at the thought of someone getting hit.

There were also what things that I can only describe as looking like toboggans. My first thought upon seeming them was that they were to be used to slide down the large hill that comprises the larger slide area. Convinced only by common sense that the sleds couldn’t be for sliding down a rubber hill, I deduced the sleds are supposed to be for bringing blocks from one area of the playground to another. Of course, most children shared my initial impression and “sledding” down the hill into the crowded sand play area.

In my few visits to the park, I witnessed more than once a child almost dropping a wood brick on another child. Kids were going down the slides and the hill on 2x4s and sleds to the point where parents of smaller children were worried to even walk near that area. On one of our visits, the thought of my small child being run over by a toboggan was the tipping point in our decision to leave.

As one mom put it, “Seriously, no one thought that kids would do anything but play with them exactly the way they’re supposed to? It should have taken about five seconds to realize that never happens.”

Two of the structures – the pirate ship and a metal platform – have flat roofs. Children were climbing on top of those structures and bringing blocks, particularly the long cylindrical ones with them, literally hitting people (accidentally, but regardless) with them.

How do they get up on the roofs? It’s not that difficult for an older child to pull him/her self up to the top of the structures, but I had to marvel at the ingenuity of the children on one of our visits – they used the wooden brick to build stairs (albeit slightly wobbly ones).

Structure roofs

This climbing and standing on top of structures eight feet in the air also presented a serious injury risk.

“What do you think the over-under is on how long it takes for a kid to fall off and break an arm?” one parent asked.

It’s understood that structures are only supposed to be uses as intended, and climbing on top of them isn’t the intent (or at least I hope not). The top of the structure is unenclosed so children can be standing on a ledge seven or eight feet high.

Anyone who has any experience with children knows children push the limits and boundaries when it comes to toys and play areas. One would like to assume playground architects would have taken a basic understanding of children’s behaviors into consideration when designing a neighborhood playground.

Another challenge I soon discovered in watching from a distance is that it might seem fun to climb up that high, but several children found it was a little more frightening to get down, leaving parents to try coaxing them down.

Playgrounds should be places where you don't have to worry extensively about your child's safety. Parents should watch their children, but there should be an expectation that parents can let their child play freely without having to worry about them getting into trouble. Playgrounds should take into account basic behaviors.

Tomorrow: It's Not All Bad

Part 1: Braving the Crowds
Part 2: From Tot Lot to Lots of Tots Left Out
Part 3: The Setup Is a Letdown