Modern Child's Play

[Gob]

They were promised a sparkling £70,000 playground - and were expecting the traditional children's climbing frames and swings. But what they got looks more like a military cemetery, with one resident branding the minimalist play area a 'deathtrap'.



Sunderland Council has described the blocks as 'play features' at Diamond Hall Pocket Park in Millfield.

But local parents have had a hard time explaining the purpose of the seemingly random blocks to their disappointed children. And they claim they had been sent a leaflet showing images of a climbing frame and swings - a far cry from what was eventually delivered.

The park has been given a makeover with money from the £2.5million Play Pathfinder funding, which was awarded to Wearside. Jackie Nisula, 46, a full-time carer, has lived in Millfield for 15 years. She said: 'I think it's a shambles and a death trap. I've seen kids of six or seven climbing on the poles - can you imagine what would happen if they fell off them. 'There's things that look like miniature gravestones sticking out of the ground. They put lots of holes in the ground with photographs, covered by glass, but they were all smashed after one day.

'There's no seating area to watch your kids. It doesn't seem to be child friendly at all. When my son was little, he used to play when they had swings - he loved it. He's 21 now and has a son of his own, and he can't take him there. It's just not safe for little kids to go on. The stepping stones are really high and made out of concrete. Kids want to jump over them but they could easily crack their heads open. 'It just doesn't seem to have been made with kids in mind. It's a half-hearted job. They promised us that it would all be different but they spent all that money and it's worse than before.'



The council's head of community services, Julie Gray, said: 'Local children in the community have been involved from the start in helping to create the park and play area on the site of the former Diamond Hall primary school. 'The design of the park was the result of extensive public consultation, with the local community and councillors asked to give their views at a number of events on the layout of the park and what kind of equipment they would like to see installed.

'This design also includes a CCTV camera being installed to help maintain a safe and secure playing environment.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z0n6HHkFeu

[Crackpot]

but it's H&S approved!

[The Hen]

Ahhh yes. Play equipment when you have no money.

My department sold a wooden bench in a playground to the Minister as a balancing beam once.

[Aard Vark]

I can see at least one hundred thing you could do in that park.

My favourite is letting all the local kids jump from piller to post except the designer's genitals are to be placed on one post.
the kids can get points for landing on them. The harder the landing the higher the points

Best part of the game you wouldn't even have to pay for Hen's wooden bench

[tyro]

Here son, I bought you another brick for your toy collection.

[Gob]

I can see at least one hundred thing you could do in that park.

My favourite is letting all the local kids jump from piller to post except the designer's genitals are to be placed on one post.
the kids can get points for landing on them. The harder the landing the higher the points

Best part of the game you wouldn't even have to pay for Hen's wooden bench

Superb Aardy, superb..

Very creative thinking!