Parents like playgrounds

Published 9:09 am Friday, October 3, 2008

The rewards for a walk to the park for a family with a young child are many.

There’s the exercise from the walk. There’s the time spent together as a family. And there’s the joy of seeing your kid play on the playground equipment.

In fact, Lisa and I sometimes take bike rides with Forrest in the bike trailer to different parks and playgrounds in Albert Lea just so we can watch the 20-month-old boy play.

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On Wednesday, we took a short walk from our house to Hayek Park. There’s a small playground there and some swings. Forrest loves to swing on the baby swings. He also is skilled at slides and tunnels and some of the usual playground stuff. I am skilled at having fun with the boy. For the Hayek Park walk, I remembered to bring a camera.

After seeing a spectrum of the play equipment at city parks and schoolgrounds, by far the favorite is the equipment at Lakeview Elementary School. That set gives children of all ages a lot to things to choose from. Tunnels, slides, bridges, steps, monkey bars, platforms, poles, climbing spots and more. The children love to play on that set of equipment.

There is a new set of equipment at Pioneer Park. It seems made for older children, perhaps 7 or older. It seems for the climbers. It has an attractive design but lacks substance. In other words, my kid didn’t like it. There was nothing for him. Maybe other children do like it. I saw one boy who was 8 climb on it. Two girls enjoyed the little, stand-up, two-person merry-go-round. So did Lisa.

The Edgewater Park equipment is fun for Forrest. He also likes the dinosaur at Valley Park. He also makes quick friends with other children on the equipment.

Ah, yes, but remember: It is about the family time. It’s fun to try out the various kinds of equipment in the city. Give it a shot.

About Tim Engstrom

Tim Engstrom is the editor of the Albert Lea Tribune. He resides in Albert Lea with his wife, two sons and dog.

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