Is the BIG Big Toy UNSAFE? (WES)

[Chris_Wendt]

This is a hold-over item from nicer weather...

There are now two (2) Big Toy playground installations at Wantagh Elementary...

- a smaller Big Toy to replace the previously larger Big Toy on Bunker Avenue

- a REALLY BIG Big Toy in the school yard behind the North Wing of the school.

There are small (I guess 3x5- or 4x6-inch) signs about eye level for adults giving age recommendations for children using either of these play sets, and requiring the presence of an adult when children want to use the Mammoth Big Toy. Unfortunately, there is no monitoring by the district of the use of this equipment, and, with the exception my my daughter and I, you would be hard pressed to ever find an adult present around that really, really BIG Big Toy.

Now the presence of my daughter and 2-year old granddaughter at the Gargantuan Toy is a wonderful case on-point. They were sent over there to the K-2 of Big Toys by school personnel who kicked my little granddaughter out of the little big toy area because the after school program was going to use the little big toy, and they played too rough for the little tykes from the neighborhood who also like to use the little big toy after school hours.

It was odd that the school person sent a 2-year old over to play on the Matterhorn of Big Toys, while keeping the rough-housing after school program kids at the teeny-weeny toy, but who are we to argue with school personnel about the use of school facilities?

Back to the message here:

Imagine yourself as a child of small stature, attended by a parent at the Kilimanjaro Toy rising above the plains. Now, climb the storming ladder and cross the Bridge on the River Kwai, heading to the top of the Victoria Falls slide (the really BIG slide). (No, it is not the really big slide that is the problem). Now, just after crossing the Bridge on the River Kwai, but before turning to your right and taking the plunge down Victoria Falls, imagine losing your footing or your balance for just a fraction of a second...

There, right smack in front of you, directly in line with the alignment of the Bridge on the River Kwai, is a HUGE opening in the ""protective"" railing, which GIGANTIC opening is meant to allow access to the Plains of Abraham to attack General Marquis de Montcalm and his French troops by scaling the mock rock wall, leading from the ground below toward that very attractive monstrous slide.

But, if you were too small a kid (like a 2-year old, or a 6-year old, or an 8 year old), or, were a misguided teenager hanging out there late at night, and you could not or did not scale the mock rock wall to reach the Crested Butte above, but instead had climbed the Dali Lama staircase and ran eagerly across the bridge like a young Indiana Jones, THEN you could all too easily fly right on out through that opening above the mock rock wall, become airborne for about 1.5 glorious seconds, and go crashing to earth, what, fifteen feet below?

Seriously though, serious injury or death could result from such a fall, even into that soft mushy smelly rubber crap all over the ground.

Oh, and while I am on the subject, I did mention teens there late at night and never with the requisite parents at any time...I had occasion early one evening to observe some lads ferreting around and digging in that soft, mushy smelly rubber crap, but like underneath elements of the Humongous Toy's structure. I thought this odd, and was especially curious at the ardor with which these lads dug and furrowed, seemingly searching desperately for something, and, upon seemingly finding the object of their quest, choosing not to reveal it in my presence. I had even offered to help dig, but my offer was spurned. After I left, they resurrected whatever contraband they had stashed under the soft, mushy, smelly rubber crap. It was growing dark and I could not really tell what treasure they had unearthed.

Anyhow, I have serious misgivings about the efficacy of that new BIG Big Toy installation at Wantagh El'.

Check it out.

Chris Wendt

[am913]

I have read your statements regarding the "BIg Toy" over and over again, and I feel I should enlighten you a bit. I had been involved with the Playground Fundraiser from its start to it's completion. I had spent countless days and hours over this past summer insuring these playground went up correctly and safely. Most days I had two kids in tow (and let me tell you those were beautiful days where I could have spent my time at the beach).
First of all, there is monitoring by the school. At the respected lunch times, there are groups of kids that are allowed on the big playground in the back of the school, and they are supervised by the aides and teachers. When a whistle is blown, those children must leave that area and another group is let on. We are in a huge school, and this was a plan that seemed to work. I have personally been out there during lunch and watched this procedure. After school hours, it is entirely up to a parent to supervise their own children.
The after school SCOPE Program is not part of the school itself. They have no right in asking anyone to leave a playground, and for that I have brought it to the attention of someone at the school. They will be spoken to. However, and personally, I had never let one of my children at the tender age of two go on one of those playgrounds. The only one I would do is an enclosed swing (i.e. Cedar Creek Park). Playgrounds are no place for a child of two years old. Going back to SCOPE, they were wrong and should not have done that. For that I am sorry.
On to the safety of the playgrounds. Everything we did to make this happen was done so legally. The playgrounds were built by a licensed playground construction company. These playgrounds are constructed all over our country. At the end, it was inspected by a company official and an insurance agent. It was approved.
Concerning the teenagers, they should not be there at night PERIOD. We can't control what goes on. Before the playground was constructed in the back, custodians consistently found needles, condoms as well as other drug items. Sad, but parents should monitor their children instead of dropping them off after hours at a school.
Regarding the mushy rubber mulch you speak of, you should ask around first before writing comments. This is not the last layer to be installed around the playground. This is the layer that needs to be compressed before the final poured-in-place is installed this spring.
We are a great community and a great school. We poured our hearts out to put this playground together, and we did so as a team. Moms and dads out there helping each other and bonding. Isn't that what a small town is all about. I would welcome you to call me directly. I will answer any and all questions you throw my way. I have a huge book full of documentation regarding these playgrounds. I love these playgrounds and the children love them.
AnneMarie Murale

[Chris_Wendt]

Anne Marie, thank you for your response.

I will be interested to see the final treatment applied at the base of the Big Toys in the Spring.

My playground design issue with the height of the opening at the top of the tall 'rock climbing wall' at the east end of the BIG Big Toy remains unresolved. Legal and safe are not necessarily one and the same.

The teenagers hanging out at WES at night is not the fault of the playground equipment, for sure. There had been violations of the Drug Free School Zone occurring on the grounds of WES in the warmer weather, and this is not something that people in charge can continue to turn a blind eye towards when the warm weather returns.

Part of the problem (or solution) is free and easy access to the parking lots at night, both behind and in front of the school. While the pot 'consumers' are of middle and high school ages, the pot 'distributors' are older, and drive there, and park in the lots to do business.

The heroin dealers seem to stay away from the school, doing their business in and around the railroad and McDonalds parking lots.

Wantagh at night is a different and more dangerous place that any of us would really care to know about.

Chris Wendt