Doing a fair amount with a small space: Waterloo Playground

Playground: Waterloo Playground
Location: on Howard between Cumberland and Huntington (playground is close to Cumberland)
Date visited: 6/18/11

Equipment: Two zones, on separate sides of the rec. center building:

1. Large playset has 5-6-foot platforms with many types of climbing and one straight metal slide, fireman pole, etc. A set of 4 strap swings is nearby.


2. Smaller playset has 3-4-foot platforms, a solid bridge, one straight metal slide, and several kinds of climbing. 4 bucket swings and 2 hobby horses (pelican and jet; they actually move!) nearby.

Material: modern resin & metal; scale: smallish spaces in med. recreation space
Ages: 1-7
Surface: rubbery/blacktop
Shade(0-3): 1
Water: N
Other: pool (empty at time of visit, but a neighbor said it would open the 2nd week in July), basketball, lots of extra blacktop (painted for hopscotch and more), grassy area nearby with picnic table, small rec. building with many coats of anti-graffitti spraypaint
Access: ?

Impressions: Playground and recreation space wound into the inside of a block -- play spaces for younger and older kids are separated, making it hard for a parent to keep watch on both, but in decent shape and well contained (if you overlook some trash). A little short on variety (few slides, no hanging, etc.) and clearly under continual graffitti assault.
Overall rating: 6