Mission Mission

Dolores Park Works reports that the playground renovations are 85% complete and it may open as soon as March. Planning is in progress for the opening party. I’m a little sad to see the Dolores Park pool go, but I think this will be a safer place for kiddos to observe adults engaging in casual drug use and public alcohol consumption.

The new Helen Diller Playground will feature a super slide, a natural climbing stone, and a “sound garden” (an anonymous donation from Chris Cornell?). It will also have designated areas for age groups 2-5 and 5-12. In fact, there will be a boat for younger kids, and a separate shipwrecked boat for the older ones–no doubt a metaphor for their soon-to-be broken hopes and dreams.

Agism? Maybe. I’ll never forget the first time I approached by a kid in a playground and told, “you’re too old to be playing here!” I was heartbroken, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it during the entire drive back to my apartment.

[photo and scoop via Dolores Park Works]

Today’s filthy update brought to you as the first installment of the new DOA (Daily Osage Alley) series, previously mentioned here. Stay tuned for more daily doses of innovate couch use, mountains of banana peels, and piles of broken dice from one of the Mission’s lesser known waste strewn alleys.

Kids these days don’t know how good they have it when it comes to playgrounds. Back when I was still allowed inside one of these things, we’d consider ourselves lucky with merely a slide, monkey bars, swings, and some broken bottle-infused sand that the one jerk kid would always throw in your face. Bonus points for one of those 3 story rocketships that were terrifying if you happened to be scared of heights.

These days playgrounds have playsets that mimic modern art and instead of sand opt for that nice cork composite padding to cushion the skulls of any children who lose their balance. I have no idea how that seat thing on the left is even supposed to work. Of course, if this place really wanted to score points with the locals, they’d install a mini-sutro tower!

Previously:

• New Dolores Park playground looking just about done thanks to addition of giant footbridge

(Thanks, hcopperm!)

Now hiring. If you think you have what it takes.

Sara, we agree. (Valencia between 26th & Southern California.)

[via Meesha]

Recursive at Community Thrift.

Our pal Kai fills us in:

Tis true, a swing has materialized.  This one is rigged with steel cable so to frustrate our local slasher.  The workmanship leaves something to be desired but the spirit is sound. Here are a few pics.

Yay! Suck it, fun-hating grinch!

(Thanks again, Kai!) (And thanks to @fiid for the original tip.)

UPDATE: Some French guy named Michael P. late last night sent Helen a picture of the heroic team that installed the swing:

So say thanks if you see ‘em around!