Maybe you’re one of those exceptional people who loves hitting the gym. Maybe you get up at 5 a.m. every morning, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed like an annoying, hyper-fit squirrel. But the average American is overweight (OK, Durango might be an exception to this rule) and for the rest of us mere mortals, the gym gets boring. Plus, you might only get an hour or two a day for physical activity, what with all of life’s demands. So what does Durango need? An adult playground.
This is not a new idea. These are already “a thing” in cities the world over. Designers have noted the importance of play for improving productivity, stimulating the imagination and plain ol’ exercise. So let’s admit it: Gyms can be kind of depressing. They are very sterile, often lacking color or pleasant décor. An adult playground, on the other hand, could be bursting with color, influenced by the indoor delights of Chuck E. Cheese, mostly inhabited on special occasions like kiddie birthday parties.
Our adult playground must also have an outdoor portion (it’s not practical for ALL of this to be built outdoors, seeing how long our winters last). Remember the bliss you felt in school when it was time for recess and you were finally set free to twist the tire swing up tightly and spin yourself until you couldn’t see straight, or climb on top of the monkey bars (where you weren’t allowed) like a heathen? You could get that feeling back.
The adult playground might be built next to a kids’ playground, so parents could use the fitness equipment while their children play within easy view. Picture fresh air, no televisions, the sun on your face. We shouldn’t outfit it with just slides or merry-go-rounds – those items aren’t wildly effective from an exercise perspective, though they can be excellent for a very gentle workout, if you’re considering older folks who can’t do high-impact stuff. The ideal playground would have multiple climbing walls, outdoor gym equipment built to withstand the elements (like benches, leg press and leg curl machines, recumbent and stationary bikes), obstacle courses (with lava underneath, naturally), zip lines or other aerial designs, and swings of some sort that could accommodate a large adult or maybe even two (because swings are enchanting flight-simulators no matter what your age).
For inspiration, take a look at the 600,000 square-foot urban playground in the City Museum of St. Louis, Missouri. Built in the former home of the 10-story International Shoe Company and designed by artist/sculptor Bob Cassilly, the playground has a sky-high jungle gym, two repurposed airplanes, 10-story slides, a rooftop Ferris wheel, subterranean caves, hundreds of feet of tunnels and ball pits. What could be better? I personally can’t think of anything. Apparently on Friday and Saturday nights, they kick the kids out at 9 p.m. and open the bar – making it the perfect spot for a date night or group fun with friends. Let’s make it happen.
Anya Jaremko-GreenwoldDGO Staff Writer
