Andrew Mills

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Who wins the Mt Rushmore of Aussie sporting nicknames?

In the early 1900s, an early playground made of metal was constructed 12 feet above concrete floors in Cedar Rapids. Prior to the concept of structured playgrounds, children played wherever there was space, including empty lots, rural fields, the woods, and even in the streets. In the early 20th century, parents grew concerned that unsupervised play might lead children to skip school and neglect their responsibilities. According to Our CR Magazine, published by the city of Cedar Rapids, "Early playgrounds were created with the goal of guiding children towards good health and good citizenship, intending to teach them to play safely together. However, safety didn't seem to be a top priority in their design." During the 1930s and 1940s, playground development slowed due to the Great Depression and war efforts. However, WPA workers were trained in various recreation activities as part of the WA Recreation Project. In Cedar Rapids, individuals were paid the regular relief scale of 50 cents an hour to supervise playgrounds. After WWII and the baby boom that followed, junk or adventure playgrounds became the norm, encouraging children to explore and build play elements using found objects. New housing developments grew quickly, and playgrounds entered mass production in the years that followed. Cedar Rapids struggled to keep up with the demand for playgrounds in neighborhoods, so they created a mobile playground that visited a site one day a week, featuring a merry-go-round, swing set, and slide on a trailer. Today's playgrounds promote socialization across various ages and ability levels. Equipment is designed to allow children with disabilities to join in and play. Rubberized surfaces are used to soften the impact of falls, and plastic pieces have round and smooth edges."