Play Environments - Plainfield Park

I observed for a half hour at an unnamed park near my home on March 20. This park is huge! Much like the playground at St. Mary's, the park is separated into two sections. One is larger and has more complicated climbing structures, along with a rock wall. It is much taller and sits above wood chips. The smaller playground is built on some kind of foam, since younger children are more likely to fall. The equipment is not as tall nor as complicated. The three kids who were playing on it (they looked to be about three years old) seemed to be thriving in an environment that was all theirs, rather than having to compete with older children. The older ones refused to play on this structure, saying it was "for babies." Some of the younger children did venture over to the other equipment, they struggled to use it because it was so much bigger. Mothers had to help them to climb up and make sure they were being safe. One ended up falling on the wood chips and starting to cry. There is also a large skate park thing at this park (one of those big holes, where skateboarders ride or people can ride their bikes) which the children liked to use. Some rode their bikes or scooters, pretending they were racing or competing. Some even ran in and out on their feet, imagining they were playing in a cave.