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Playgrounds From the 70's

Growing up in suburban Los Angeles in the 70's meant lots of time at the local playground. Getting out to nature involved a car trip and because most suburbs were planned in the 1950's city parks were always nearby.

We had simple needs back then. Most of the playground equipment consisted of basic metal structures with a certain level of danger which kept it exciting.

Seeing some of these images takes me back, and now that I have two kids of my own, makes me wish that some of these were still around for them to enjoy, bruises and all.

Via George Campbell

Via George Campbell

Via Jenny with a camera!

Via CoryG

Via Life Magazine

Via bnsd70

Via Lauren Orchowski

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Comments

That space cruiser one looks like a lame star trek enterprise. I love these playground equipment sets! They definitely reflect the science and space race oriented vibe of the era. http://www.playland-inc.com

I remember the Miracle Fun House from the early 1970s. There was one in Veterans Park in Redondo Beach: http://tailotherat.blogspot.com/2010/09/fun-house.html

I just love seeing all these classic playground pieces. Last year, my husband and I were reminiscing about the rocket slide we both grew up playing on in our hometown, Colby, KS. We loved it so much, I convinced my husband to design and build his own version of a rocketship playground in our backyard for our kids. It's the hit of the neighborhood. Check it out at http://tinyurl.com/ycrrg4b.

When I was a kid in San Jose/Cupertino California in the late 60's early 70's, my mom made it her mission to take us to every city park she could find. Two really stand out: one with giant (well, they seemed giant at the time) dinosaurs made of painted concrete that you could climb on. I especially remember the red pterodactyl. The other was a water park, which featured a ring of water cannons that would turn on at scheduled times and blast water into the middle of a large concrete pad - slip and fall injury, anyone? There was also a castle type building that would also have water pouring from hidden jets. Not only did we have wet concrete, we had wet concrete *stairs*! How cool was that?

Like Karl, I remember vividly the Rocket Slide at Eisenhower Park (which I used to call "The Rocket Park"). When I was very young, I'd try to scramble up the corrugated steel gangway on my slick-bottomed shoes, and get frustrated that I could only make it so far. Since I wanted to slide so badly, I'd scramble up as far as I could, then just slide down the gangway. When I was finally old enough to make it up all the way, I loved both of the slides but, of course, the big red one was the most exciting. That gangway was noisy as hell from all the kids clomping up and down it. I always loved looking out for the rockets when we drove by the park. Man, huge memories here as well.