The other day, my son asked if we could go to the Adventure Playground. "You know, the one with the zip line," he reminded me.
The last time we'd been there was just before they were six and now my boys are seven and soon-to-be rising third graders. Prior to that, we'd been there once before, when they were about five. So off we headed this past weekend, happy to have a place to go that felt new again.
At first glance, this kid-build playground looks like a shanty town that's under perpetual construction. The noise of its young residents filters through the scrap metal sidings, joining the sounds of hammering. Something is happening here.
It's the sound of of kids hard at play. My sons climbed rickety ladders, leaped from boats, and scaled the sides of buildings that would be condemned in the real world. Over at the workbench area, they grabbed hammers, nails and bits of wood and made swords. Then they chased each other through the playground, like children of yesteryear, before the temptation of video games, and before the pressures of standardized testing and competitive sports.
If you're reading this and thinking of bringing your under 5 child to the Adventure Playground, I advise you to wait. As my kids have grown up, I've learned that there are some things that are better if you wait. Too much, too soon. The Adventure Playground isn't for everyone. Think 1970s playspace. Some might think it's a tad dangerous. You won't find any molded plastic, but you will find errant nails and splintered sidings and unreinforced floors.
Wobbly little kids are more likely to get hurt. Wobbly little kids get in the way of big kid rough play. This is no place for strollers. Sure, little kids can enjoy the space (mine did) but really, it's better for all if you wait until they're at least five to really experience this park. Actually age 8 to 10 is probably the ideal age. Besides, kids have to be at least six to use the zip line.
I think they should have an Adventure Playground workshop at the Maker Faire and inspire kids and families to turn vacant lots into a similar space. I don't know how the city of Berkeley (of course, Berkeley) absolves itself from liability in this age of safety first but maybe they can lead the workshop. It would be worth it to bring this type of old-fashioned fun into the lives of modern kids.
Of course, we ended our day with a minor injury. My son scuffed up his elbow crawling through a wooden fort. He shrugged it off and so did we. He'd earned his Adventure Playground merit badge.
The Adventure Playground opens daily starting June 18 (through August 17) and is open weekend now.
This is an original post to Chalk and Cheese Chronicles.










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