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Home- Swing sets
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Innovative Playground Equipment
During the years following the end of
World War II, there was a growth in the playground equipment industry.
This growth is attributed to the "baby boom" years during the time
period in which so many children were born. Playground equipment
manufacturers took advantage of this era to capitalize on the situation.
Thus, they looked for new ways in which to design and manufacture
innovative playground equipment. Jungle gyms were turned into metal
climbing structures that looked like fire trucks, rocket ships, dump
trucks and cars. They were also painted colors to resemble the various
modes of transportation and to make the equipment more colorful and
attractive.
In the 1960s and early part of the 1970s when the hippie movement was in
fully swing, more colorful playground equipment emerged to correspond
with the psychedelic era. The normally dull gray slides began to
transform into colorful structures. The silver/gray galvanized steel
playground equipment that was painted or manufactured with red, yellow
and blue materials was certainly more attractive to young children.
Further transformation was seen in playground equipment after the first
man walked on the moon. Climbing equipment that resembled spaceships and
rockets were suddenly very popular on playgrounds, and even in
backyards.
An environmental movement in the 1970s brought about changes in
materials from which playground equipment was manufactured. Many
companies started manufacturing playground equipment from recycled
plastics.
The trend to enhance playground equipment with color, quality and
composition, as well as the movement to utilize recycling products led
to the manufacturing and use of the type of playground equipment that is
popular today. This type of playground equipment is known as modular
equipment. Such playground equipment is essentially a series of
structures in which a child can slide, climb, swing or play inside a
cubicle or other open formation. Many of these modular structures are
made of durable PVC or other recycled materials.
Playground manufacturers are continually upgrading their products to
make them more innovative and appealing to children.
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