10 Playgrounds That Would Be Considered Unsafe Today

Once upon a time, playgrounds were built with towering slides, dizzying equipment, and very little adult supervision. Kids got scraped knees and bruised elbows, and loved every second of it. Here’s a lineup of playgrounds that would never pass modern safety standards.

1. Sky-High Metal Slides

Manuel Campagnoli on Pexels

These slides were skyscrapers to a five-year-old, and twice as hot in the summer. There were no guardrails and rubber padding, just steel and a good push. It was thrilling until you landed too hard or slid right off the edge. 

2. Metal Jungle Gyms Over Dirt

David E. Lucas on Wikimedia Commons

There was nothing like dangling from rusted bars over compacted dirt and a few sharp rocks. These towering structures tested bravery, balance, and your ability to stick a landing. Helmets? Not a chance. 

3. Spinning Death Disks (aka Merry-Go-Rounds)

Norbert Nagel on Pexels

One kid spun it, and everyone else held on for dear life. These were fast, unpredictable, and guaranteed a few flying bodies. If you let go at the wrong time, you would be airborne. 

4. Seesaws That Smacked You Down

Ammodramus on Wikimedia Commons

The rule was simple: never let go. These things could catapult your friend or slam you into the ground. They were great until someone cried or chipped a tooth. 

5. Wood Plank Teeter-Totters

Yan Krukau on Pexels

These weren’t just outdated; they were splinter machines. The heavy wooden planks were a hazard on their own, and the thud when they hit the ground could shake your teeth loose. 

6. Swing Sets in Gravel or Concrete

Ali Karimiboroujeni on Pexels

Every push came with the risk of scraping your knees or slamming into the hard ground. If someone walked behind you, be prepared for a flying kick. 

7. Slides That Burned Your Skin

Tuğba on Pexels

In the heat of summer, these metal beasts turned into frying pans. Kids would test them by tapping with their hands, then slide anyway. The burns were part of the experience. 

8. Tire Swing That Whipped Around

Ryutaro Tsukata on Pexels

It was all fun and games until someone spun it too hard, and you smacked into the tree. These were less of a “gentle ride” and more of a “hang on and hope.” Still, they were a classic. 

9. Monkey Bars Way Too High

Michael Rivera on Wikimedia Commons

Falling off the top meant a direct drop onto gravel or worse. These setups assumed every kid had Olympic upper body strength. Spoiler: most did not. 

10. No Fencing, No Rules

Abby Chung on Pexels

Many old playgrounds were right next to busy streets or parking lots, without a single fence. It was up to kids to know their limits and up to parents to shout warnings. It was total chaos or total freedom. 

• Tags:
• Playgrounds
• childhood
• Safety
• retro
• parenting