Essays from West of 98: Parks and Playgrounds
What is the difference between a park and a playground? Did you ever consider the difference? The terms can be used interchangeably in casual discussion and shorthand references to parks, but when it comes to the fundamentals of park design, they are very different things.
A park is broadly defined as a natural area set aside for some purpose of recreation and/or preservation. A playground is a space specifically designed for children to play. Playgrounds are often included within a park, but they can also be located elsewhere, and a park need not include a playground. This may seem somewhat esoteric, but the differences between a park and a playground have been important to the history of parks in America and they should be considered as we invest in these areas within our communities.
As I discussed last time, American city parks were originally conceived as a place of respite amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. Consequently, the earliest city parks like Central Park in New York City were full of greenspace and natural features like rocky ledges, ponds, and forests. These parks often included paths for walking, horseback riding and carriages (these were the days before automobiles), but they were mostly left in their natural state. The general idea was for a park visitor to experience nature with a minimum of human disturbance.
As New York City grew in the early 20th century, city planners like Robert Moses (a fascinating and infamous character for many reasons) saw a need for children to have spaces to play within the city. There was an enormous fight over the addition of playground equipment to Central Park—some factions wanted children to use that beautiful space to play, while other factions were horrified that noisy children would disturb the quiet of nature within the park. Ultimately, that battle was resolved with the placement of playground equipment on the outer boundaries of the park.
In reading that history, I was hardly impressed with the pretentiousness of the faction that did not want their park “ruined” by children. But when you set aside the parties involved, you can see a reasonable point within both arguments. There is deep value in experiencing nature without a lot of human clutter involved. That is even more true now than it was in the early 20th century—natural spaces are much harder to access for more of our population and are lives are even more cluttered, particularly thanks to screens and digital advancements that are difficult to escape.
But on the flip side, children deserve to have an enjoyable place to get fresh air, exercise, and play with their friends. In a city with miles of concrete, asphalt, and high-rise buildings, or even in a small town, those locations are limited. It is hard not to see the value in placing playgrounds in or around a beautiful park area.
Parks and playgrounds have significant value to our communities, both together and separately. There are cases when a park should include a playground. There are cases when a park should be focused on nature or the preservation of unique natural features, in which case human disturbance should be minimal. There are other cases where a larger traditional city park is not feasible, but a few pieces of playground equipment can provide recreational opportunities within a neighborhood.
Over the years, I have wondered whether children are “different” now than when I was young. I have been told that children would rather stay inside all day. Having watched my three-year-old daughter and her friends explore playground equipment like any child of the 1980s or 1990s, I am confident that children still value those experiences. And based on our summer attendance figures at our city pool (many of whom traveled there by foot), it seems that plenty of children are still thrilled by outdoor recreation.
Parks matter. Playgrounds matter. Communities should recognize the distinction between the two and find the best way to invest in both.
James Decker is the Mayor of Stamford, Texas and the creator of the West of 98 website and podcast. Contact James and subscribe to these essays at westof98.substack.com and subscribe to West of 98 wherever podcasts are found.