from the By Bethani Gerhard, Minnesota Recreation a nd Park Association
Past
Playgrounds from prior generations consisted mostly of fast metal slides and a certain level of danger. Some unique playgrounds from the past were gigantic robots, rockets with sliding poles, and spaceships reaching 30-feet in height - looking like they were ready to blast into space.
Rocket Park
River Park in Brooklyn Park used to be known in the late 1960s as ‘Rocket Park.’ “It was referred to as Rocket Park, mainly because the large playground structure was in the shape of a tall rocket ship,” says Jan Ficken, recreation services manager for Brooklyn Park Recreation and Park. “And people today still refer to River Park as the old rocket park.” River Park was funded by the first park bond referendum in Brooklyn Park’s history. “The rocket playground structure was eventually replaced by newer equipment,” says Ficken. “Landscape Structures, Inc. employees, along with city parks maintenance crew members, spent the day assembling the new park. It was the first completely handicap accessible playground in Brooklyn Park with separate areas for both younger children ages 2 to 5 and older ones ages 6 to 12.” River Park was significant to the City of Brooklyn Park because it was a featured community park, and its proximity along the Mississippi River. It is now complete with the updated playground, ball fields, tennis courts, walking and biking trails, and a large pavilion.
Silver Lake Park
Three generations of kids have slid down the spiral slide at Silver Lake Park, North St. Paul. The large slide, made primarily of metal and long wooden steps, has an interesting history. It was originally built as a fire escape, to save lives from the third floor window of the Standard Conveyer Company. In 1955, it was removed and placed at Silver Lake for beach goers. The slide was removed in June of 2012 because of safety and insurance concerns. There were growing gaps in the slide ribbing, which tended to catch on clothing and shoelaces. And the slide itself was not meeting code, according to North St. Paul city council
18 MINNESOTA Recreation and Parks • www.mnrpa.org
PHOTO: New Elm Creek Park Reserve play structure INSET: Old Elm Creek Park Reserve wooded structure Below: Old Rocket Park playground
member Terry Furlong. It is too tall to meet the new requirements. If somebody was to fall from that height it would be dangerous. There is nothing on the ground to absorb their fall. As of now, the slide is being stored at the city works building. Since the city can’t fix the slide, they’d like to put something in its place that is compliant with state standards, according to Furlong. They are looking at the possibility of another spiral slide, shorter in length.
hyland Lake Park Reserve
By the time the 1980s rolled around, wooden structures with fast metal tubes became a popular playground style. Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington, part of Three Rivers Park District, is multigenerational playground. “It used to be known as ‘Shoots and Ladders’ - a maze of wood decks and super long (100’) slides and climbers,” says Stephen Shurson, landscape architect for Three Rivers Park District. “We just finished an expansion of the play area which was renovated in 2001. A lot of people who knew ‘Shoots and Ladders’ historically are now coming back to Hyland with their kids to play.”
Elm Creek Park Reserve
Another 1980s playground that has recently been renovated is Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove. “Originally built in 1981, the playground was comprised of wooden decks, railings, metal slides and a few plastics slides, and a large zip line,” states Shurson, who was also the project manager for the Elm Creek Park Reserve playground. “Because it was largely made out of wood, the playground had a lot of maintenance issues. There were modifications made in 1995 for accessibility and safety.” When the new playground at Elm Creek opened in June of 2011, it was one of the largest outdoor playgrounds in the metro area. “We diversified and went with 24 different sub-contractors and suppliers, including six different playground manufacturers,” adds Shurson. If you haven’t been to Elm Creek Park Reserve, it’s worth taking the time to check out the amazing playground that has something to offer people of all ages.