The Playground Swing Sets
Playground swing sets have certainly changed in the last thirty or forty years. The ruling form in past times was an assembly of metal structures, like the slide, monkey bars, merry-go-round, and of course the swings themselves. Sets in backyards were composed mostly of less sturdy versions, usually a swing and slide combination. But in the past decade or so, the two types have become more alike.
The predominant form in both versions now is the wood swing set. This type of set has been found to be safer in many ways and, if made of the right sort of wood and properly treated, is almost as durable as a metal set. The old wooden planks that once served as swing seats have been replaced either by seats of plastic or resin, or by plastic belts that will hold the weight of the child yet not cause injuries if they fly loose. In fact, many of the components of playground swing sets are now made of plastic like those swing seats, so that now, for example, playground slides will be made of smooth, rounded plastic, doing away with the old metal slides.
The modern playground swing sets, like their residential counterparts, also tend to be more compact. They don’t always feature separate, freestanding structures as they used to, with the swings in one location, the slide in another, the teeter-totter in another, and so on. These newer sets are more modular, many having a small central tower off of which different elements branch. So the frame for the swings might come off one side of the tower, while the slide extends from another side and a climbing wall might lead off from yet a third side. The swing accessories, in both the playground and home sets, can be added or changed as the local needs dictate.
Another feature of playground swing sets now is that there is more of a focus on safety. The wooden sets came into vogue after playground injuries became a concern a couple of decades ago, and the newer sets have tried to address safety in other ways too. Many playground designers place these outdoor swing sets on softer surfaces, like pads made of material from recycled tires, rather than on open ground that gets packed as kids play on it. The merry-go-round with its strong centrifugal force and metal rails that could cause serious injury is generally absent now, and if the teeter-totter still appears, it’s now made of plastic rather than heavy wood. The swing sets at parks and playground have evolved to become safer than they used to be. With all the new materials, colors and accessories, it’s still just as much fun as it ever was; just a great deal safer.
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