Car made of wood 01 on Hari Krishna farm "Eco Truly" in Lluta Valley near Arica in Chile	Flying ship on the playground of Zurich-Wiedikon, Koller Meadow	Rent a go-cart 02 in Ejido Park in Quito in Ecuador, photo with a VW Beetle with eyes
Rent a children's bike with repair post in Ejido Park in Quito in Ecuador	Train engine with trailer made of wood on the playground of Thun, Switzerland	Summer luge run in Ibbenbueren in NRW in Germany, start

Analysis by Michael Palomino (2012)

Standing vehicles on the playground

A car on the playground

In a full-size standing car children are playing car plays and are copying car trips, or new trips are invented, with all possible and impossible variations. Important for these car games are a steering wheel and some switches.

Car made of wood 01 on Hari Krishna farm "Eco Truly" in Lluta Valley near Arica in Chile [1]

Car made of wood 02 on Hari Krishna farm "Eco Truly" in Lluta Valley near Arica in Chile [2]

Lets see this car a little bit more precise: -- this car is provoking fantasy and is a symbol for nature at the same time (++) -- this car has a roof (+) but is also well ventilated (+) and is protecting from the sun (+) - there is never any rain in Arica -- the car is big and can also serve for serious talks, also for adults (+) -- and also the four wheels are seating accommodations (+) -- but some big trees are missing so the car would be in the shadow (-). As there is hardly any rain in the region of Arica with it's Lluta Valley the earthen soil around the car is appropriated. This playground car of Hari Krishna farm "Eco Truly" in Lluta Valley in the region of Arica in Chile gets (++++++) SIX plus.

Steamroller on a playground

A real steamroller on the playground of Alsdorf near Aachen, NRW, Germany [3] A real old steamroller on a playground is a joy for watching for the children, but only for a short moment, and then the children detect that a steamroller is hardly giving any possibility for plays, because 1 the driver's cabin has only one seat 2 the work of a steamroller (rolling the new street) is a very slow work and is not an animation for children's movement 3 building streets is connected with cancer causing fumes, and car traffic is connected with cancer causing fine dust, and this is concealed of course

4. and add to this the steamroller will corrode in wind and weather. That means: a real old steamroller (which was working with real steam yet) should not be placed on a playground taking room for other plays, but should be placed in a traffic museum or car museum where the work and the dangers are really explained and where the steamroller will be also protected from wind and weather.

Train engines on a playground

	Train engine made of wood on the playground of Uetliberg (Uetli Mountain) in the region of Zurich, Switzerland [4] -- this train engine with a trailer offers room for children (+), but hardly offers any protection from the sun or from the rain (-) -- and the playground itself has no trees giving shadow (-).
Next train engine:
	Train engine made of wood with a roof and a trailer on the playground of Thun, Switzerland [5] -- the train engine and the trailer are made of wood in a more or less real shape, and this provokes much fantasy with humans (+) -- the train engine with it's trailer also has got a roof and is protecting children from sun and rain (+)
-- the trailer has also got a roof and can be used as a little lounge (+) and one can perform little plays there also when it's raining (+) -- the soil around the engine is made of garden stones with a little creek (+) and the trees are giving a half-shade (+) and there are even more seating accommodations around the engine permitting more playing possibilities (+). This playground train engine in Thun in Switzerland receives (+++++++) SEVEN plus. The only critical point with this construction is the vulnerability of the wood being attacked by wind and weather. Therefore the wood has to be varnished every year (-) or could even be painted with colors. Add to this it can be that any technical device is missing in the driver's cab, and with some switches and handles there could be many more plus.
Next train engine:
Train engine on a playground at Taylor Street in Zehlendorf District in Berlin [x001] Good engine, let's see the details: -- this engine is in inspiring colors (just accidentally the colors are the colors of the German flag...) (+) -- the engine has got a number, very well watched (+) -- the engine has got sitting accommodation on the central part (+) and is also a shelter there (+) -- at the front there is also a sitting accommodation in form of an imitation of the grill against animals as it was in former times, very well watched! (+) -- and this engine also has got "lamps", again well watched! (+ Well, there would be some more possibilities for this train engine: -- unfortunately a trailer is missing, and therefore many more possibilities are missing for plays or meetings under a roof protection -- probably also some simple switches and handles are missing in the cockpit -- and at the front there should not be a swinging "house form" of course but the form should be flat so there would be even more sitting accommodations on the engine. But this little train engine in Berlin-Zehlendorf receives SIX plus, and there could be easily some more! When the tube would be a metal tube then some incense sticks could really let smoke the engine... Next train engine: A real train engine on the playground of Alsdorf near Aachen, NRW, Germany [6] A real old steam locomotive on a playground is for children very attractive to see for a short moment, but is hardly offering any possibility for plays, because 1 the steps into the cockpit are much too high for children 2 the windows of the cockpit are so high that only 12 years old children can see through the windows, and 3 children in the age of 12 are not interested in train engine plays any more, above all when there is hardly any room for plays in the engine 4 And moreover, the train engine is corroding in wind and weather. That means: A real steam locomotive should not be on a playground taking the room for other playing device, but should be sheltered in a traffic museum or in a railway station museum.

A ship on a playground

Children want to develop their fantasy and live it, and this gives them more fantasy and more creativity also in their adult life. A "pirate ship" with pirate symbols is not so good because these are symbols of violence adoring illegal action. Therefore a simple and normal ship is enough for a playground, without any symbolism.

	Flying ship on the playground "Kollerwiese" ("Koller Meadow") 01 in Wiedikon District in Zurich [7], and the back view with the slide [8] A ship on a playground is a big vision for large voyages crossing oceans which are also described in many children's books supporting also the possibility of a multi cultural consciousness. This fantasy children are living in the upper part of the ship where is a railing and a roofed cockpit protecting children from sun and rain. In the case of Zurich-Wiedikon the ship has got also wings and is said to be a "flying pirate ship", and this gives even more fantasy possibilities of course. But a ship is also a symbol for a bowl, the shipping space in the lower part, and a bowl is also the symbol for the possibility that something will grow in it or will be saved well there. Therefore children will have the feeling of protection there - also being protected from the rain. This symbolic protection in the ship's hold is reduced here -- because the ship's hold is "holey" with many slots and clefts for air and light, and therefore there is no ram air but there is always a good ventilation and good light (+) -- children can climb up the ship and can climb into the ship (+) -- add to this children in the ship's hold can also communicate with the outer side of the ship and never feel lost (+) -- and the slide on the ship is a good variation whereas children are also climbing up the slide (+), and also a mast for sails is not missing (+) -- and the wings provoke even more fantasy (+) also when the wings are a little bit little or puny. Instead of slots and clefts also bull's eyes could have been installed what had been a little bit more realistic but it had been a little bit more expensive then. Then there is also a rudder,  but not a simple rudder, but this rudder has got the shape similar to a dragon's wing (+). Unfortunately an anchor or only a symbol for an anchor is missing (-).
The soil is of sand, and this is not the best because the "stupid sand" is always in the shoes (-). So, let's see: This extraordinary children's ship on the playground of Wiedikon District in Zurich gets (+++++++) SEVEN plus. The only critical point with this construction is the vulnerability of the wood being attacked by wind and weather. Therefore the wood has to be varnished every year (-) or could even be painted with colors.
Next ship:
	Ship on a playground 02 in Oberwoessen in Upper Bavaria, Germany [9, 10] The ship is on a gravel soil. Here is the sight to two climbing nets (in front a big net, in the background a little net with a lower entrance). This ship has got real walls with two big doors for ventilation (+). The access to the railing is variable with climbing nets (+) or passing a suspension bridge (+). The cockpit has got no roof (-) and it seems that there is also no cockpit steering wheel (-) and probably also a rudder is missing (-).
Also a mast is missing (-). But there is a symbol for an anchor (+). Protection from the sun is only in the cargo part. As a symbolism of fairy tales there is only the symbol of an anchor. The architects have therefore built a "sportive" ship with many climbing possibilities, but important details like a central mast were forgotten. The soil of gravel is drying fast after a rain fall (+) but is loud (-) and children like to throw little pebble stones around (-). The wood has to be protected one time per year with varnish protecting the wood from wind and weather. This has been done here already as it seems. Next ship: Ship with slide and a little swing boat on the playground of Herminghouse Park in Velbert (region of Wuppertal), Germany [11, 12] The big ship is the same model like in Oberwoessen, with a big and a little climbing net, and the ship has no roof. Add a slide at the rear side can be seen. The ship is in the shadow or in the half-shade and it seems that a roof is not so necessary then. But during a rain only the cargo part gives some protection. The soil is a woodchip ground with sawdust, is drying fast, but requires always good shoes for not being harmed by sharp wooden peaces - and barefoot walking is only possible with a thick horny layer like the natives have. Therefore the woodchip ground should have been limited to some special areas. The ship has to be varnished every year protecting the wood from wind and weather, which seems having been done already in this case. Little swing boat The swing boat is imitating exactly the swinging movements of a boat on a calm river or in the calm sea and offers much space to the children.
Next ship:
	Ship with a slide in Kleinpestitz-Mockritz near Dresden in Germany [13] The ship is called a "pirate ship", but this is no pirate ship. But there are many basic elements other ships don't have: -- portholes (+) -- to anchor symbols (+) -- rivets (+) -- and add to this the ship is painted blue symbolizing water and yellow in the upper part symbolizing sun (+). The slide coming from the ship is not too steep and ends in a sandy soil which corresponds to the needs of the 4 to 8 years old children - and it's also possible to climb the slide upwards (+).
The sand is not so good because it will always be in the children's shoes, but it's the symbol for a big beach (+). But some little children also eat the sand and then it's dangerous. Artificial lawn would be better.
Next ship:
Ship moving on spiral springs, playground of Reichenfeld in Feldkirch, Austria [14] The ship on spiral springs has the basic elements of a ship: -- the layout of a ship, and a railing (+) -- a mat (+) -- the wood is an inspiration for nature (+) -- and this ship can move and shake which most other ships cannot do (+) -- and this hip is in the shadow of big trees (+). FIVE plus! But essential elements are also missing: -- there is no steering wheel -- there is no anchor or anchor symbol -- probably also a rudder is missing at the back side -- there is missing any allusion to fairy tales or mythological action -- and the whole cargo part is missing, but is not needed because the ship is shaking with it's spiral springs and when a ship is on the sea the cargo part is also covered by the water -- but the wood is not varnished but is given to wind and weather without protection, so a varnish or colors should be put for even more joy. Well: with some more elements and some more symbolism and with some varnish every year this "swinging ship" could provoke even much more fantasy to "swing" respectively to develop, and then this ship could also get EIGHT plus. Next ship: Ship in the recreation area of Haddorfer Seen ("Haddorf Lakes") in Wettringen, region of Muenster, North Rhine Westfalia, Germany, frontal view [15] and lateral view [16] The ship at the beach of a lake is just on the right place: -- there are buffer tires (children will climb on them) which is a very rare detail (+) -- there are climbing nets for the entrance (+) and there is a suspension bridge as an access to the back side to the rear (+) -- at the frontal mat (prow mat) there are handholds for gymnastics like pullups (+) -- there is also a barrel of the cargo (+) -- there is also a steering wheel (+) (unfortunately at the wrong side in the front) -- there is also a central mat (+) (unfortunately at the wrong side in the back) -- little flags are a living element on deck (+) -- and there is also a cabin giving the real impression of an old sailing ship (+) -- and also the cargo part is roofed (+) but unfortunately portholes are missing. All in all this ship receives TEN plus! Critical points are: -- there is missing any anchor symbol or anchor (-) and probably also the rudder is missing on the back side (?) -- the pirate's symbol with skull and bones is absolutely wrong (-). Well, Asterix and Obelix also don not treat well the pirates... -- but what is really missing is natural shadow by trees (-). But the lake is near and only 15 m away for getting a refreshment (+). Next ship: Ship on the playground of Birkenweg (Birch Lane) in Saerbeck, region of Muenster, NRW, Germany [17] This play ship has a special character: -- there is a high deck on the front side (+) giving a great view -- this provokes the advantage that the children in the cargo part can be upright (+) -- and there is always a relation to outside (+) and ventilation is always good (+) -- rivets and little portholes remember of real shipbuilding (+) -- and there is also a steering wheel (+) and also a big mat (+) and there are also climbing nets for the "access" (+) -- and there is a slide for the exit (+). This ship enables many playing possibilities and gets NINE plus. What is missing is an anchor symbol or an anchor (-), and a cabin in the back part (stern) of the ship (-). Next ship: A ship half drowned in Much, Germany There is a ship half sank on the playground of Lower Secondary School of Much, North Rhine Westfalia, Germany [18] -- this half drowned pirate ship of Much is not only a pirate ship, but the mat is converted into a carousel with crossbars and climbing nets (+) -- the cargo room is only little and can be only for children of 4 to 10 years, with slots and clefts for air and light (+) and communication to outdoor is always possible (+) -- the little tunnels have the effect being portholes and seem also to be determined for children between 4 to 10 years (+) -- also the deck parts at the front and at the back seem to be determined for children between 4 to 10 years (+) -- and the carousel is for all, the children and the youths (+). This half drowned ship gets FIVE plus. But with some more details the ship would get easily eight plus, because: There are missing a steering wheel, anchor, rudder, and a slide would also be possible at the back side.
Next ship:
A withdrawn passenger ship in Hannover, Germany Withdrawn passenger ship "Heike" on the playground of Glocksee ("Bell's Lake") at Hannover [19] -- this passenger ship was withdrawn from common life and shows reality (+) -- a mat was installed (+) but principally it does not need it -- in the back part a tower was installed where probably also is a slide (+) -- anchor symbol or anchor is missing -- probably all is missing what was electronic device with switches and steering wheel (?) -- all in all the ship gives a real impression but is not a big source for fantasy, and also colors are missing. That means one should "do something" with this chip so it will be also exciting for children. Next ship: Ship with slide on the playground of Wilhelm Busch Street in Ibbenbueren near Muenster, North Rhine Westfalia, Germany [20] This little ship for children from 4 to about 8 years -- is painted in colors (+) -- has got a deck with a mat (+) -- has got a slide with a long and low flat end (+) -- and the access to the deck is a ladder which together with the slide is the symbol for two oars (+) -- moreover, the deck is protecting the cargo part from rain and sun, and ventilation is good (+). This little ship gets (+++++) FIVE plus. What is not matching is the house form of the deck. And with some more details like railing, steering wheel and anchor or a symbol of an anchor the ship will get easily 3 Plus more.

Tractor on the playground

	A real old tractor on a playground in Wolfurt near Bregenz in Austria [21] Switches and gears should exist yet. The motor has not to exist any more. The tractor is put into wind and weather and is corroding - therefore it should be roofed otherwise the children will only see the corroding and destruction process how the toy is breaking.
	Tractor 02 on a building playground Senkelsgraben in Porz near Cologne [22] Here the tractor was completely painted protecting it from wind and weather.

Mobile vehicles on the playground

Digger on the playground

Children's digger on a playground in Frasdorf in Bavaria, Germany [23] This movable "digger" is a beginning for an important profession and career on building sites. Also when hardly any sand can be found here for any transport, it is a signal for an underestimated profession.

Drive a go-cart on the playground

Go-carts for rent (+) with a repair post aside (+) in a big park with many playing devices (+) and big trees giving shadow (+) and with well installed and well draining lanes (+). This is Ejido Park in Quito and for renting go-carts gets (+++++) FIVE plus.

Photos with colorful go-carts from Ejido Park in Quito in Ecuador (2012)
Go-cart for rent 01, Ejido Park in Quito in Ecuador	Go-cart for rent 02, Ejido Park in Quito in Ecuador
Childish joy of moving can be expressed by different vehicles. In Ejido Park in Quito - the capital of Ecuador - children have a big choice and can rent go-carts and children's bicycles (+). The go-cards all have a bodywork and are painted in funny ways, partly also have eyes or are in the shape of a Volkswagen (VW) Beetle (+). Sometimes even the father is the driver for two daughters. Additionally the lanes are very well made for pedestrians and little vehicles (+).
Driving a go-cart 01, Ejido Park in Quito in Ecuador	Driving a go-cart 02, Ejido Park in Quito in Ecuador
Driving a go-cart 03, Ejido Park in Quito in Ecuador	Driving a go-cart 04, Ejido Park in Quito in Ecuador
Driving a go-cart 05, Ejido Park in Quito in Ecuador	Driving a go-cart 06, Ejido Park in Quito in Ecuador
Driving a go-cart 07, Ejido Park in Quito in Ecuador Well, this driver seems to bey already something like a youth, but is fitting just into this car yet...	Driving a go-cart 08, Ejido Park in Quito in Ecuador

There are many locations where "normal" go-carts can be rent, without framework (and very boring by this). One can rent them above all in holiday locations.

Rent a go-cart in Goehren-Lebbin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany
Drive a go-cart 09, a go-cart on a lawn in Goehren-Lebbin 01	Drive a go-cart 10, a go-cart trailer also for giving drive, Goehren-Lebbin, Germany
Drive a go-cart 11, a go-cart as a twoseater with two steering wheels, Goehren-Lebbin, Germany	Drive a go-cart 12, a go-cart for four persons, children in the front, Goehren-Lebbin, Germany
Drive a go-cart 13, a go-cart like a Harley, Goehren-Lebbin, Germany	Drive a go-cart 14, a go-cart for two like Harley, Goehren-Lebbin, Germany
Drive a go-cart 15, a go-cart with reclining seat, Goehren-Lebbin, Germany
Drive a go-cart 16, tricycle, Goehren-Lebbin, Germany	Drive a go-cart 17, a tricycle with a passenger seat, Goehren-Lebbin, Germany

Go-Card with trailer and roof

Drive a go-cart 18, go-cart with trailer and roof, web site Mietmeile.de, Germany

Go-carts for rent in Rutzenmoos, Austria
Drive a go-cart 19, go-cart for 4 persons with two steering wheels, Rutzenmoos, Austria	Drive a go-cart 20, go-cart for 6 persons with two steering wheels, Rutzenmoos, Austria

 

Go-carts with a circuit in an amusement park in Studen near Bienne in Switzerland
Drive a go-cart 21, go-carts in the amusement park "Seeteufel" ("Lake's Devil") in Studen near Bienne, canton of Berne, Switzerland		Drive a go-cart 22, go-carts on the circuit in the amusement park "Seeteufel" ("Lake's Devil") in Studen near Bienne, canton of Berne, Switzerland

Park train on the playground

	Park train 01 in the amusement park "Seeteufel" ("Lake's Devil") in Studen near Bienne, canton of Berne, Switzerland Fantasy can be stimulated very much by a train like here by a train engine with a Zebra design (+). And this train really has got it's own trail and technically gifted children are especially proud of this (+). The rail cars (British: coaches) are in almost all rainbow colors, and this is a big event for the eye (+). At the top is written "Seeteufel". One could write other more funny texts there of course.
On the rail cars commercial advertising is installed, and just for damaging lemonades with sugar and citric acid (destroying the teeth). Symbolism or painted fairy tale characters are missing (-), or also advertising for healthy food is missing. Perhaps there should be something done about it. There could be funny sayings at the top of the rail cars in combination with childhood symbols, and below could be some advertising, and then the train will have two plus more.
Park train in Schwarzheide ("Black heather"), Lausitz, Germany Park train 02 in Schwarzheide, Lausitz, Germany This "Park Express" is multicolored (+) on real tracks (+). The engine is dominant because the rail cars (British: coaches) have no roofs. Therefore the train cannot circulate during rain, and during sunshine nobody can protect himself, and this is really a little bit bad. One could install roofs on the half of the rail cars, so all could choose what they prefer.
Next train:
Photos from the park train (tractor train) from Wall Park (parque Muralla) in Lima (Peru) (from 2008) Park train 03+04, tractor train of Wall Park (parque Muralla) in red and in white, Lima, Peru Well, of course the park train in Wall Park (parque Muralla) in Lima is no "rail"-way but only a tractor train, but the design is like for a circus spreading good mood also during foggy days. And the tractor is in form of a train engine. One train is in red, another one in white (++). Park train 05+06: tractor train in Wall Park (parque Muralla) is passing the whole park passing also the playing area for children and youths, respectively the tractor train is circuiting this area almost completely on a 180 grade curved bridge as one can see it on the big photo below. Perhaps the swings are also installed in different heights being adjusted to the different ages of childhood so no child is "hanging" in the air. Who knows. Park train 07: the sight from the tractor train in Wall Park (parque Muralla) to the little playing area, Lima, Peru Well, this train is jingling ceaselessly and children are in an atmosphere always being remembered of great trips with a real train. Unfortunately the tremendous circus-like painting of the two tractor trains in Wall Park (parque Muralla) is not applied for the children's playing area where any balancing or climbing device or trampoline was missing (2008). The tracks visible on the big photo are part of the real railway line from Lima to the Central Andes to the contaminated mine town of La Oroya and to Huancayo. But a passenger train is passing only one time per week and is mostly for tourists only - and other trains are with minerals coming from the mines going to the port of Callao near Lima. Next train: Train in the amusement park of Ibbenbueren, region of Muenster, NRW, Germany
Park train 08 in Ibbenbueren 01, train station	Park train 09 in Ibbenbueren 02 running
Park train 10 in Ibbenbueren 03, bridge passing the summer luge run

Rent a bicycle / bike on the playground

Rent children's bike and youth's bike (++) with a repair service (+) in a park with many playing devices (+) and with trees giving shadow (+) and with well arranged and well draining lanes (+). This is Ejido Park in Quito in Ecuador and is really a model and gets for this (++++++) SIX plus. Only the rain itself can block the joy in this case.

Rent a bicycle / bike in Ejido Park in Quito, Ecuador Photos by Michael Palomino (2012)
Bike 01: rent a children's bike 01 with bike repair service in Ejido Park in Quito, Ecuador	Bike 02: rent a children's bike 02 also with youth's bikes in Ejido Park in Quito, Ecuador
Bike 03: rent a bike also for adults 01 in Ejido Park in Quito, Ecuador Bike 04: repair service for bikes and for go carts in Ejido Park in Quito in Ecuador
Bike 05: bike repair service 02 in Ejido Park in Quito, Ecuador

Ships and pedaloes in a big pond

Yes, it's simple to organize joy when the architects have the right ideas:

Drive pedalo ships on a water circuit in Carolina Park in Quito, Ecuador
Water 01: water circuit with pedalo ships in Carolina Park 01, Quito, Ecuador	Water 02: water circuit with pedalo ships and rowboat in Carolina Park 02, Quito, Ecuador
Water 03: driving pedalo ships in a lagoon in the Park of Friendship (parque de la Amistad) in Surco, Lima, Peru

Summer luge run

When the hills have the right shape one can install also a summer luge fun:

Photos of summer luge run in Ibbenbueren, region of Muenster, NRW, Germany
Summer luge run in Ibbenbueren 01, entrance	Summer luge run in Ibbenbueren 02, start on a luge
Summer luge run in Ibbenbueren 03, run on the ramp	Summer luge in Ibbenbueren 04, arrival at the valley station
As it seems the first line is blocked having no access to the station. Performing a "race" is not possible, so.