Resources
History of playgrounds…
Playgrounds as we known them originated as “sand gardens” in Germany in 1885. The first playground in the United States was created in Boston in 1886. Due to industrialization and urbanization grew, concern for public welfare became prevalent. Playgrounds were seen as a solution to bring a community together. Playgrounds could keep children off dangerous streets and help them develop healthy habits and socialization skills through the joy of play.
In 1906, the Playground Association of America formed to promote ideas of playgrounds to communities. Manufacturing companies found new business in developing play structures. Early ones were built with galvanized steel pipes, vertical and horizontal elements, ladders, and chains -- some of these would be considered dangerous by today’s standards according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
As structures aged, they were replaced by newer designs. Materials for playground construction changed to include concrete, wood and plastics over a variety of surfaces. A wonderful resource on playground history was developed by Dr. Joe Frost of the University of Texas at Austin: The Evolution of American Playgrounds.
Below is Dr. Frost’s chronology:
1880s-1890s: Sand Gardens. (Think sandboxes in lots beside buildings.)
1900s-1920s: Model Playgrounds. (Think of tall apparatuses built with steel tubes, merry-go-rounds, and other twirling contraptions like the Giant Stride.)
1930s-1940s: Development Slowed Suspended due to Depression and War Efforts.
1940s-1950s: Adventures or Junk Playgrounds. (Think of going on an adventure and exploring through caves, over landscapes, building elements using found objects, without much supervision. Some of these playgrounds were accessible.)
1950s-1970s: Novelty Playgrounds. (Think of rocket ships, slides, animal shapes, imaginative tunnels and shapes, still made of metal.)
1970s-1980s: Standardized Playgrounds. (Think of rounded edges and hard plastic equipment -- a response to rising concerns about playground safety.)
1980s-present: Modern Playgrounds. (A surge in imaginative playgrounds with safe surfaces, varying themes and materials.)