Beyond Thunderdome: Encouraging Growth in a "World of Danger"

(Brooklyn Bridge Park - View toward Brooklyn Bridge)

What have we become that our litigious culture - safety over savvy, suitful superfluousity over fun, and fretful fear over friendly frolicking - continues to abandon personal responsibility and drives us further toward the removal of opportunities for learning and fun from our play environments?

(Stainless Steel Play Domes)

Bloody noses and tales of thermal torment have graced the front pages of many a publication recently, over the highly anticipated but recently relegated opening of Brooklyn Bridge Park. "They should take them out and put in something like a jungle gym, remember those?". Yes, we remember those, along with monkey bars, see-saws, and backyard ravines - all exciting, playful, may I say daring memories of being a child. Our human fallibility's of short-term memory  prevent us from recalling a chipped tooth, a painful laceration, even a broken bone. Many of these were acquired not from innocuous play equipment but from our own tendencies to push ourselves, dare one another, even ignore our parents well-guided intentions of concern. "They're dangerous", "I want them removed" are just some of the statements of fear and fury being expressed around the city of New York by residents and parents alike. Though concerns regarding our children's welfare may never be abated, it strikes me as troubling and unfortunate that we are so quick to absolve ourselves of any personal responsibility and/or control.

Let me not lead you to believe that I would wish a child to be "horribly scarred or injured". Unfortunately as a design professional I am caught in a terrible middle earth that is tasked with responding to the greater health and safety of the public while providing places for mystery, adventure, and fun - the best of which often come with a hint of risk and a dash of danger.

I recently visited the park and can attest to the shiny draw of the "controversial metal climbing domes". Perhaps if there had not been so many kids sliding, climbing, and running across them I would have taken a shot at conquering them myself. One of the first bright and gloriously sunny days that has dragged us from the icy confines of winter and into spring, the anticipation and enjoyment of the park was evident. Simply but thoughtfully laid out, Brooklyn Bridge Park teases New York's residents - far and wide - and leaves them in anticipation of the many sequential phases to come.

The advent and continued growth of prefabricated playgrounds, I believe, promises to do more harm than good to our children's personal and physical growth. Overly didactic in their elicitation of creative play and physical challenge, designers are responding with a much needed revolt against a lobby group - play structure manufacturers of prefabricated equipment (with the exception of a few) - that continues to legitimize and politicize children's play. So powerful are these groups, they seek to ostracize, arguably criminalize any attempt at providing alternates to the dumbed-down structures we see littering our urban and suburban neighbourhoods. MVVA's "steel domes" are one attempt at providing creative elements that allow for flexibility, appropriation, and creative play. Every tragedy, I believe, has a silver lining. While I am intrigued as to whether or not the designer's had fully thought the play structures at Brooklyn Bridge Park through, I remain supportive of their attempts.

Perhaps the maturing trees will provide the intended shade and cooling so that kids may continue to enjoy the domes throughout the warmer months. Maybe more permanent tents or structures will need to be provided to mitigate the thermal effects on the structures. Unfortunately, no matter how many warning signs are posted, rubber play mats installed, or surfaces ground smooth we live in a world that confronts us each day with the potential for harm the minute we walk out our front doors.

I can only wonder who we blame when our child burns themselves on the clothes iron, stove, or hot water within our own homes. Who is at fault for burning themselves while drinking hot coffee - the woman who ordered it or the retailer that sold it? The first and last time I ever touched a hot stove was the last. It is amazing how a park that has been so anticipated can quickly become so criticized. We are a being that often remains discontent, dissatisfied the minute we have nothing to be upset about, yet everything to be joyous about. My sympathies lie with the parents who have been 'affronted' in some way, but my empathies lie with the children for whom are caught and remain helpless amidst a litigious battle that is destined to overshadow the potential benefits of this great new civic amenity.