12 Playground Equipment Pieces That Would Be Banned Today
Playgrounds of the past were filled with thrilling yet hazardous equipment that would never meet today’s safety standards.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Playgrounds used to be wild, filled with high-flying, spinning, and often downright dangerous equipment. Safety standards were more relaxed, leaving kids to experience thrills that sometimes ended in scrapes, bruises, or worse. Here’s a nostalgic look at 12 playground contraptions that would be banned today for being just a little too risky.
1. Metal Slides
Nicola Barts on Pexels
These scorching-hot behemoths turned into frying pans under the summer sun, leaving kids with unexpected burns. Their steep angles and slick surfaces often sent children flying at dangerous speeds.
2. Merry-Go-Rounds
Library of Congress on Unsplash
Spinning at breakneck speeds, these metal platforms launched kids who couldn’t hold on tight enough. The centrifugal force made it easy to lose grip, leading to painful falls onto unforgiving pavement.
3. Giant Jungle Gyms
Aarchiba on Wikimedia Commons
Massive metal climbing structures tested agility but lacked safety precautions. A fall from the top could mean broken bones or worse since they were often placed over concrete or packed dirt.
4. Seesaws with No Safety Stops
Minh Trần on Pexels
Classic teeter-totters were fun until someone jumped off suddenly, sending the other rider crashing down. Without safety mechanisms, kids often got their legs pinched or their tailbones bruised.
5. Tall Monkey Bars
cottonbro studio on Pexels
Scaling the tallest monkey bars felt like a rite of passage—until you slipped and plummeted onto solid ground. With no padding below, falls resulted in twisted ankles, sprains, or worse.
6. The Spinner (Witch’s Hat)
Hisu lee on Pexels
This towering contraption spun wildly while kids hung on for dear life. One misstep could send someone flying, or worse, result in a nasty collision. Many kids found themselves tripping over the swinging bottom section.
7. Concrete or Asphalt Ground
Cristiano Silva on Pexels
Before safety surfacing was a thing, kids tumbled onto hard concrete or compacted dirt. Falls from any height often resulted in scrapes, bruises, or broken bones.
8. Fireman Poles
Shardar Tarikul Islam on Pexels
Sliding down seemed fun—until kids misjudged their grip and plummeted straight to the ground. Some landed awkwardly, twisting ankles or spraining wrists.
9. Log Rollers
Nelly Aran on Pexels
With a balancing act gone wrong, these rotating logs required agility and quick reflexes. One wrong move and kids were on their backs, often with bruised shins or worse.
10. Chain Swings Without Safety Seats
Ksenia Chernaya on Pexels
Old-school swings with just a flat wooden or metal seat were a recipe for accidents. If you slipped off mid-air, you were likely to land hard. Worse yet, kids standing too close often got smacked by a rogue swing in motion.
11. Overly Steep Rope Climbs
Calvin Seng on Pexels
Rope pyramids and vertical climbs challenged kids to reach the top, but falling meant disaster. Many lacked side netting or grips, increasing the chance of an uncontrolled descent.
12. Unsafe Zip Lines
Spc. Anna Churco on Wikimedia Commons
Some old playgrounds featured DIY-style zip lines without secure harnesses or proper braking. A fast ride often ended with a jarring stop—or worse, a midair fall.