When was the last time you pumped your legs and pointed your toes toward the sky, basking in the simple pleasure of a swing ride? Or spun around until you were dizzy on a merry-go-round? Hit the ground hard then bounced up suddenly on a seesaw?
In Manchester, England, the country’s first “pensioner’s playground” made its debut in 2008. A year prior in Berlin marked the opening of Europe’s first pensioner’s playground, whose designer was an engineer inspired by seniors in China who exercised in parks, subway stations, and on the streets with “simple pieces of government-provided equipment,” says this article from the EngAGE blog.
Gordon Lishman, director of UK-based senior support organization Age Concern, believes that senior playgrounds are important for exercise and socialization, and Madeline Elsdon, a spokeswoman for the group responsible for getting a senior playground up and running in London, says people “are never too old to play.”
Of course, these playgrounds are designed with older bodies in mind; you won’t see slides here. But the goal — giving seniors an opportunity to stay active and engage with peers in a fresh, fun way — is certainly universal.
Talk back: Would you go to a senior playground? Do you think the model should come to the US?
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Michael Cohen says,
Thanks, Michelle, for talking about this subject.
It was the Manchester playground for seniors (specifically a Good Morning America news video about it) which first inspired me to create Must Have Play, a company dedicated to designing and building playgrounds for elders in the US.
For 21 years, I had been helping communities create world-class playgrounds for their children.
The more I learned about playgrounds for elders, from China in the 1990s, and Japan a little later, then Europe (Finland, Germany, Austria, and England), the more inspired I became to shift my focus and apply my expertise to meeting the playground needs of elders.
I am quite convinced there is a clear need for attractive, appealing, outdoor places for elders to exercise, socialize, and play. I am excited and determined to bring my own vision of these playgrounds to the US.
I think they belong in every public park, every bit as much as children’s playgrounds, and also at senior housing communities.
on 20 June 2012 / 6:12 PM
Michelle Seitzer says,
Hi Michael!
You’re welcome. I am quite fascinated by the subject and by your work with Must Have Play. Perhaps I could connect with you via email or phone to learn more about your company and perhaps write a longer piece about this? I’ll reach out via email and we’ll go from there.
I do agree though — there is a need for appealing outdoor places for elders and public parks/senior living communities should consider adding them. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts (and for your work)!
on 21 June 2012 / 9:02 AM