We are lucky to have a wonderful park system in Allentown. Our family spends a lot of time at parks and on playgrounds. We take advantage of the Muhlenberg School playground, where our son can stay after school and play with his friends. Other than the school playground, which has old equipment, and is like a swamp after it rains, there are no other public playgrounds in the west end of Allentown. This is why I am excited about plans for a new fully accessible destination playground to be built at Allentown's Cedar Beach park. According to the mayor, this playground will "consist of the latest technology and most innovative playground equipment available." Wow, that sounds great!Unstructured play is so important to a child's physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development. Childhood obesity is a problem in this country. Too many kids stay home and play video games or watch television. Too many parents use television as a babysitter. The American Heart Association advocates for one hour of play a day for kids.
Our community is changing and growing. There are more children. Children of all ages can benefit from a new playground. New playground equipment looks more like big modern sculptures for kids to explore and be creative. These newer structures are safer than the old equipment, and are handicap accessible. They are also designed with less flat surfaces, which helps to deter graffitti. And it's free fun! I know that there are many Allentown children (and parents) who will benefit from the new playground.
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34 comments:
Thanks for the link anon 2:31, we should have included that in our post.
"City Official," we haven't heard anything about "Pay To Play" but hopefully our local blogger Watch Dogs will be keeping an eye out for this ...
Indeed, what would we do
w/ out them?
Not a threat.
Now, Sasha, I think your being overly harsh ...
Actually, the odometer went around a few times already (wink wink), it's at 5,900, I'm .. pretty shure ..
No. The mark for 5,900 is the metal material that's in gum wrappers, I forget the name ... "Chewinium," I think, it's on the Periodic Table of Elements ...
I've always been a trendsetter (merci).
Okay, people, although I'm thoroughly enjoying the "OT" (off topic) topic (me), we ARE starting to veer ever sooo slightly "OT" (off topic) so let's get back to the NEW PLAYGROUND, whad'ya say ...
While I do enjoy a lively discussion about our local whiny blahgassmear, please try to stay on topic.
There are many updated playgrounds and sprinkler parks for the inner city kids in Allentown. But where we live (Northwest) there is no playground for kids to walk to. I have noticed that in South Whitehall Township there are many updated playgrounds, and these playgrounds seem hardly ever used. Those suburbanites have big yards for kids to play in. Where we live, not too many people have big yards because the houses are mostly twins. So there is a need for a playground.
Also, playgrounds help build social capital in a community by bringing people together. The adults find something they have in common to talk about, (children) And the kids can socialize. Dog Parks do that too.
Well said.
VCO:
C'est adorable!
Anon 8:50: great points!
Anon 10:10: great points!
Mr. Crankypants: I agree
Civil Sybil 6:02: Hey y'all!
Civil Sybil 8:35: Hey Y'all!
Greetings again Sybil!
Best Regards and have a good evening.
There's a lot of whining and complaining on the blogs about Allentown and it's parks. Why aren't more people getting involved to help preserve the old park structures? There's a non-profit called "friends of the park"
where people can volunteer and help.
Sorry so many comments were deleted by some jerk. There were some good points made here. The other blogs are SO negative and whiny.
And a new playground is a definite plus. This shows that the mayor and his administration are in touch with changing times and with the growing community. Playgrounds benefit kids is so many ways.
Thank you anon 9:06
I have heard that there are some blahggers whining about the parks and yearnin' for them olden days. Well, I am a fan of nostalgia too, but I live in the real world and as Steven Colbert says "reality has a liberal bias"
and I can accept and adapt to our changing community. I think those old local neo-cons always have to have something to complain about,even a playground for the kids! They only think of themselves and their needs.
I don't live in west Allentown, but I know for a fact there are NO kids there in need of a playground. Who cares about kids anyway, and they better stay off my lawn. And I don't care to get to know the new people in my community anyhow. If they ain't Dutch, they ain't much. But in all do respect,
the mayor ain't in touch with nothin' cause he's not a real Allentownian. But I do have some good memories of playing with Susie Stumpf on the Teeter-Totter.
Hi Mr Crankypants, and thanks for coming back. Here at LVS we appreciate all points of view, even yours!
Believe me, there are many kids in the west end who need a playground. Don't believe what you may read at the know it all nostalgia network of senior blahhgers. I'm a mom who actually GOES to playgrounds. And I live in Allentown, and in the 21st century.
Viva Viagra!
I'm back too, after being hospitalized for the trauma of having my comments deleted by Bernie O'Hare. Thankfully, I was in the Chris Casey Ward For Hapless Victims of Blog Wars, so they took good care of me.
Hi y'all, I won't be blogging for a while. I got a new job in the Pawlowski administration and I'll have my hands full making sure that local wpa projects that were allowed to fall apart over the decades as Mike Molovinsky stood by and did nothing continue to get absolutely no maintenance so Molovinsky can now kvetch about them as if he's a good person or something (he's not, he's a jackass). Toodle-ooh.
Good point Sybil 6:38, and welcome back. Where the heck were these native Allentownians over the years when the WPA park structures were falling apart? They are kinda like the Tea-Baggers who blame Obama. Where the heck were they while Bush was on a spending spree?
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