There are kid playgrounds because it’s good for children’s social, emotional, and physical health. The government pays for them so they are free. Why aren’t there free adult playgrounds to help maintain good social, emotional and physical health?
All the closest things I can think of (sky zone, ropes course etc) you have to pay for!
Yeah that’s a fair point. I feel like I want adult playgrounds swings and slides and climby things
Unfortunately for you, the answer is that most adults don't want those things. If they did, then we would build adult playground equipment and fewer tennis and basketball courts.
OP about to become my favorite mayoral candidate in whatever town they’re from
I’ll run on a platform of playgrounds and naps for all!
I totally want an adult only foam/ball pit! And I hate having to skulk around the park until there are no kids around so I can swing! And I’m an old.
I think most adults want it, they just don’t know they want it
This is just not true.
Try having a kid. You getting plenty of opportunities to use play equipment and it's a fucking ballache
I don't think that's an entirely fair comparison. The kid will want you to run around and stuff, while if you're on your own you could just calmly swing back and forth for a while.
I get motion sickness on swings now. I assure you, I don’t want it.
I actually don't think that's true at all.
I actually think that the issue is that an adult-scale playground would regularly kill people, lol. If you tried to scale up a playground to "adult size" they'd be tall enough that there would be very regular injuries from people falling or whatever. Falling from 6 feet means hitting the ground a lot harder than falling from 3, no matter how old you are. And kids are already more resilient to injury than adults are.
'Cause like... consider, adults regularly pay for access to what OP is describing - they're just in places like rock climbing gyms, where you have to undergo instruction and where there is a considerable amount of safety equipment that couldn't reasonably be maintained in a public park, and where there are staff present to ensure that nobody is using the equipment while drunk, etc.
I think plenty of adults want those things. The actual issue is that the equipment required to satisfy the adult desire to climb around on stuff is sufficiently dangerous that it can't reasonably be installed in public parks.
You can still do that in regular parks, plenty of the equipment is big enough. Just go during off hours if you feel weird, or bring a niece/nephew along.
You can borrow kids to take as well.
YOU HAVE TO ASK FIRST DO NOT JUST TAKE THE CHILD!
Maybe offer them some candy, I loved candy as a kid
Kids are also well known for helping look for lost pets.
In a white van so that you look extra approachable
My daughter is 4 now. I really appreciate having an excuse to go on slides again, jump in the ball pit, build Lego, whatever! She's my excuse to act ridiculous and have it be socially acceptable!
(you never needed a excuse) but I'm glad you're having fun either way
Santa Monica has these 20 foot tall swings that I can only imagine are for adolescents / adults
It’s always Australia! So great
There should be periods where the kids can't use the jungle-gym, "Adult Swing"
Adult swing has a different connotation.
Man... this stuff keeps getting me.
These days, I worry about how to express my genuine need for vitamin D.
Adults can fit on the regular swings no problem.
Just got rock climbing man
There's (usually) not a sign restricting adults from playing on playgrounds.
For me I've found Parkour to scratch that itch! You still run into the same problem of parkour gyms being uncommon, but maybe you can find a local group!
Adults would ruin it by doing it drunk, breaking it on purpose, etc.
You want to be a kid again. Don't we all. Sorry, life's a one-way ticket.
But why the intense binary between what kids can enjoy and what adults can enjoy
The differrnce isn't between what you can enjoy, it's between where, and with whom, it's appropriate to enjoy it.
Go at off tines or when the weather isn't as great.. that's what I do sometimes. Husband and I will go for a walk, and sometimes the playground is empty for a short time and we'll say "hurry up before the kids come back!" And do a quick run of the equipment.
We always leave when kids show up (or go to the other side if its a large area), mostly just in case parents are uncomfortable with it.
There is a giant multi story kids playground in my city. I read the list of guidelines and I'm officially short enough, and weigh under the limit.
I'm so tempted to play on it everytime I go past it. None of my friends are short enough so I'd have to play alone. One woman in her 30s scrambling around the playground surrounded by weirded out kids haha
Yeah, as an adult, i certainly don't want to play on over-sized playground equipment. And i'd be willing to bet that most adults that think they do would get into them once or twice, but wouldn't want to do them all the time. Most of those kid things require a child-like imagination to be fun, because you're not really "doing anything." With tennis, for example, you're "doing something." It's competitive, and has a goal.
And for those that don’t like sports or weightlifting? Or just want simple fun that doesn’t require other people? I don’t mind being around people, but every one of those requires others, including weight lifting (a spotter).
I don't know if parks are what you want. Maybe you're looking for an arcade? What exactly are you asking for?
Exactly what the initial post said, a park with playground type equipment (swings, slides, etc.) sized for adults and where adults aren’t shamed for using. Not alternatives, but exactly what was asked.
Weightlifting doesn’t require a spotter, and most of the free outdoor work-out equipment is either mobility and cardio based or callisthenics equipment
You don’t need a spotter, just use the safety arms on the rack
We do too in UK & Ireland
I fucking love swings and would 100 percent go to an adult park.
Agreed. In the meantime, off to the skatepark!
See you at the swings after work to see who can go the highest within a minute. Does 6pm work?
Right?!?
Just go to the park? You can go down the slides.
I would love to agree, but all the local parks in my area have slides that are either short enough my feet are on the ground while sitting on the top, spiral slides that have a small enough radius that they hurt to use, or some other form of adult hostile architecture.
Swings are often the same issue, seat width or height made for kids, not adults, resulting in very uncomfortable swings (not to mention frequently designed for much lighter weight resulting in potential damage when using not enough weight or secured for an adult swinging, light weight chains, etc)
Further, as an adult male, going to the park without obvious kids (and frequently with obvious kids) often results in getting the cops called on you, pictures taken and blasted on various social media, and other issues for “looking creepy and suspicious”.
So no, often we can’t just go to a park and play.
To be fair, going to the local playpark and using the slides is "looking" creepy and suspicious. It is actively being creepy and suspicious
Why?
Because most adults don’t have a desire to use children’s toys. That differentiation from the norm would lead people to be suspicious of you
Not only that, but people are obviously very guarded and protective of their children, so someone acting suspiciously around their children could lead them to believe that person has malicious intentions
Because playparks are for children.
Fully grown adults using them prevents children from using them.
And that’s creepy?
Well, aye?
We clearly have very different definitions of the word.
Yeah, acting inappropriately around children ain't creepy at all
Must have different definitions of the word ‘inappropriate’ as well.
Having fun going down the slide or swinging on a swing is acting inappropriately around children???? Are you on crack??
Strange. I've been to a park as an adult without children. (Early 20s) It was fun to get a little drunk and go play on the swings at 10pm. Lolz Of course that was 20 years ago.
As an adult, I've never had an issue swinging on any swing set.
There are parks that say "no adults allowed without an accompanying child" as a means of preventing pedophilia, I guess. Not sure if enforceable, but if not, a Karen can easily instigate a fight by getting in your face and screaming at you and attacking you, whereupon the cops will jail you.
Well, I guess one has to bring their girlfriend/boyfriend with them.
They’re called State and National Parks. Put your hiking boots on and go enjoy nature.
What about like swings and slides
I have spent many a fine camping trip at natural water slides. Brings out the kid in all
Skiing/snowboarding. Mountains are adult playgrounds
With Disney price tags
Yup, totally free and just a few minutes' drive away.
This is r/NoStupidQuestions, not r/BeAnAsshole.
I can hike a maximum of three miles before significant joint pain, at six miles it takes a week or so of recovery time. At ten miles I am unable to move.
I can swing for hours.
I would love to just be able to go out hiking, but it is not really an option any longer.
Check out biking. Gravel, mountain, (even e-bikes, if you must 😉 )I have joint pain out the wazoo, and now I ride a ton. It's life changing. I rode 85mi yesterday across my gigantic multi-cities area.
I used to ride about 30 miles a day. It apparently caused/contributed to sciatic issues and now I have limited surface feeling (right leg, hip to knee, front and outer surface). I am just happy the constant subsurface pain has mostly gone.
I am looking into getting a recumbent bike with a full seat rather than a saddle like an upright bike. Once I find one, I fully intend to get back to riding regularly.
Definitely get fully measured and a bike fit as well. Like a good bike fit (they'll measure your sit-bones and knees with lasers n' shit). It really taught me the mechanics of how my joints SHOULD move on the bike and I went from riding 10mi and dying to riding 85mi and being ready for more the next day.
Side note: the human body is a crazy/weird thing 😂
All kids playgrounds are adult playgrounds past 8pm.
I feel like I've seen news articles about playgrounds for senior citizens getting more popular in a few cities, but nothing widespread. I'm with you, OP. I think play is important for all ages, and there should be more socially acceptable ways for adults to play for low or no cost. One of my favorite memories is a Thanksgiving where I was getting overwhelmed so I took a walk to the little playground park in my mom's neighborhood and (since it was drizzly and a holiday) had the whole place to myself. I just popped some earbuds in and spent a half hour on the swings before heading back.
I would love this ngl. I do enjoy the swing at the park though. But like that one person said, state parks and the like can be very beautiful and fun to walk
Parkour gyms! They have adults only open gyms.
It's not free, but it's fun! And you dont have to worry about little kids running around.
Ive been looking for the same things.
I WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN AN ADULT PLAYGROUND. NEED TO SWING FOR MY SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL HEALTH.
Adult here- I’ve played tag on kids playgrounds with my adult friends. Definitely a fun experience
Absolutely agree, there's something deeply satisfying about the simple joys we experienced as kids. While you may outgrow the size of the swings, you never outgrow the feeling. I've seen more "adult-friendly" areas popping up in public spaces as well outdoor gyms that utilize bodyweight exercises, and parks are beginning to incorporate walking trails with fitness stations. Kind of blends the workout with the fun of being outdoors. And hey, there's nothing weird about an adult on a swing gravity's pull and that temporary flight feeling don't age discriminate. Use those parks to relive the play of childhood; that laughter and freedom is still as potent as ever.
The funny thing is that if you look back far enough, swings actually were considered adult entertainment!
There’s community centers and club houses. There’s cafes where people meet up.
Because whoever owned the equipment would just constantly be hit by predatory lawsuits.
There are free skate parks, mountain biking trails and parkour parks in some places.
because children can be disciplined for poor behavior.
There used to be a bunch of planks and real splintery looking, sit up benches and chin up bars at the Corning preserve.
There are parks with basketball courts and fields with goal posts.
There's outdoor gyms every so often, at least round here, and well there's nothing actually stopping adults from using a kids playground
Size matters. Playground equipment is usually child-sized.
It may be a liability thing. Adult play areas like that tend to be much higher, and require a harness and some basic knowledge or additional maintenance for safety. Kids playgrounds are small and don't require much cost and maintenance to keep around for 20+ years.
Well, kids don't have money so their playgrounds must be free. Or at least society has an interest in giving all kids a place to play and exercise without draining their parents wallets since they can't pay themselves. Adults are expected to pay for their entertainment so if you're missing out on slides go get a ticket for the water park or wherever has the equipment you want.
Very little demand.
You think? I feel like places like sky zone, rock climbing gyms etc are popular. These feel like things similar to aspects of playgrounds
Sky Zone is primarily a kid trampoline park.
You mean like... a park?
Cuz kids don’t have an income and adults do. Same reason going to school at 7 years old is not the same as going to college. You can do home workouts for health and There are so many free parks and walking and biking trails for exercise.
We have “adult playgrounds” in the Netherlands. Maybe 500m walking from my house are several outdoor workout and exercise areas. And within a few kilometers you can find nature trails, parks with gravel bike trails, rivers and lakes for boating etc.
Getting out in nature is basically free except some equipment like bikes and boats.
I’m sure your area has similar stuff like this! https://images.app.goo.gl/uKQiGLPuwqV46EPf6
I kind of thought the existing parks, forest preserves and outdoor recreation areas already were pretty much that. Lots of places I can go for a run, hike, paddle, climb or whatever. If it's games I got basketball, pickelball, disc golf and tennis among others.
My area has lots of free outdoor spaces with adult activities, ranging from bocce to swimming to hiking.
Because the government doesn't care about such things. You're an adult. Your job is to work and feed the machine so that rich idiots in both parties can point and laugh.
That being said, most parks I know of do have basketball fields and workout area that are open to the public of all ages. That's about as close as you're going to get.
There are in wealthy areas.
What would be your definition of adult playground?
There are parks out there where people can gather, workout or anything else.
Have you every been to a ninja warrior gym? It's probably exactly what you're looking for.
So instead of going to work you want to go swinging ??😹 Bruh I don't even have time for a beer , of what use would adult play grounds be
Chicago has miles and miles and miles of free beaches.... miles and miles of free forest preserves... miles and miles of bike trails.... what are you asking for?
Tons of municipalities have started bodyweight operated exercise equipment like ellipticals in parks for adults to use. No powered motors and meant to withstand the outdoors.
And even that's a big expense for most places. We barely have budgets to fix roads and clean water, maybe in a few decades we will be able to afford more luxuries.
I miss those merry-go-round things you run around and then jump on, and then try not to barf/get pulled off. Those are a timeless device. Still fun as an adult.
Now they have silly crap like "speed limiters" smh
Before I knew of this, I was told about it being an adult playground.
Cause crosscut cost money
In a way I think the gym could be considered an adult playground 🤔
I call it the forest.
They are quite numerous in Poland. They are labeled as outdoor gyms but functionally they are more or less the same as adult playgrounds.
Best to look for "accessibility playgrounds". In Australia, or at least many areas in NSW we've been to plenty of playgrounds that are designed to accommodate larger kids with disabilities, including in ground trampolines to fit an adult and a wheelchair user, flying foxes with a harnessed seat, large jest swings and wider open slides. There's plenty of times where the playground is empty and I can slide with my toddler or swing next to her etc
I mean, it doesn't say children only, so if you fit, go ahead.
But yeah, otherwise, free outdoor gyms are all over the place where I live they even have monkey bar style things, skate parks, beaches, basketball ,tennis, football ball etc courts.
That's called a gym
Drink water at bars I guess.
Because the world is your playground. Go climb some trees, go to a park, or check out a gym lol. There’s no difference except for the fact a “playground” is exclusively for children. There’s nothing stopping you from being socially and physically enriched at these places except yourself
Kids can't build their own playgrounds. But adults can build their own playgrounds.
Kids may have money but it is still coming from their parents which is still, adults.
Then the adults have their own money, which could be used to , build playgrounds. Or pay the tax to the government then have them build the playgrounds for the kids. Then if the adults want the government to build adult playgrounds, isn't it faster for the adults themselves to build it?
What a good question. I'm really thinking about it rn.
They have adult playgrounds in Europe. Wish we had them in the US.
Do we? Where?
Search adult playgrounds in Europe and Adult playgrounds in Scandinavia
I saw a story about them on TV maybe 10 years ago. Well, I'm old, so it was earlier than yesterday and later than 2000.
I’d say rock climbing parks, parkour centres, indoor skiing even gyms are kind of those spaces.
We have parks that combine play structures for assorted ages. Some other countries such as China incorporate these into neighborhoods.
Some parks do have areas for adults! (:
I will say, who is stopping you from climbing on what you can fit in?? Just saying. 😁
Theres paid options too, like the City Museum in Saint Louis, MO
There are they’re called gyms,there Is public ones at parks but you never really see them used. If you’re talking about kids parks with things like slides and swings then I think the answer is because the demands not there that’s a niche things that some businesses might be able to get into but dont think it’s a wide enough want to justify using tax dollars on.
And you’d have parents putting little kids on a slide big enough for adults and then complain about they came rolling down sideways and puked all over the place.
I always thought those public weightlifting setups you see on the beaches in movies set in Florida and California were just “movie stuff” but apparently they’re real.
But then that’s just weights, not actual “play” equipment to have fun on like monkey bars and swings and slides.
Also, you’d have some assclown breaking everything, or otherwise ruining it for everyone else. That’s why indoor gyms are better. They’re managed, and users hold each other accountable, generally.
Still, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to try setting one up, maybe in a building where adults could congregate easily and not have to deal with children or teens. If it was a big enough space, you could put in a bouncy house, some slides, a Jungle Gym, some crash pads and foam pits, and a swing set that had limiters so you couldn’t try for a 360.
And some low contact stuff like tether ball, Nerf blasters, or jump ropes to keep those Double Dutch skills. Hula hoops to keep the lower back loose. Maybe some games like Dave & Busters.
I wish we had the exercise parks that South Korea has!
They are called airports
Because of kids.
I’d absolutely love to see a place with adult sized monkey bars and slides, an old school merry go round(leg breaker), and swings.
The problem would be when some “parent” decided to bring their kids to the danger park. Little Kaitlyn gets hurt on the spinning steel disc and her halfwit mother sues the place into oblivion.
Kids and parents are why we can’t have fun stuff just for adults.
I mean if you had a climbing frame that was to be challenging for an adult, i.e. more considerable height, then it would require harnesses or mats (like in a bouldering gym). Also how would you prevent children from accessing the adult area, and be subject to larger heights which may cause them injury?
Also I feel like the children play grounds are getting worse and smaller, I remember as a kid we had massive wooden fortresses with metal chain buckets and sand, climbing frames, very long slides, but now they seem tiny and made of metal. This is in the UK.
Get back to work, citizen!
Insurance.
What about bars? You don’t have to pay to get into bars.
Those aren’t (usually) designed for physical and social play. I think they serve a different purpose.
Actually, after a few tequilas they definitely are for that
Kids don’t have jobs to pay for that, adults do
But why do adults have to pay?
Because most taxpayers don't want to pay for adults to have a free swing. But most people don't wanna be the asshole who says "I don't want MY tax money going to some little kids playground!"
Like, we have much better uses for our tax money.
I don’t want to pay for kids to have a free swing, if we’re going to be honest. But if I pay for kids to have one, I’m happy to allow adults to access it too!
We don’t cease to matter just because we are “grown”. And this notion of children getting to “play” and “be kids” is actually fairly modern. Historically, kids had to pitch in on the homestead and help the family- much more work than the modern idyllic childhood that many people seem to want now.
Because they can have careers
There are, they're called parks.
Who would clean up all the cum ?
Because you’re supposed to fucking grow up. Goddamn some of you are so lost
The parks around my area have work out equipment for adults, as well as basketball courts, tennis courts, and fields for soccer, baseball, and football.