12 Playground Items Too Dangerous For Most Louisiana Parks

I was driving down Preston the other day and as I approached Youree Drive, I see some children playing at AC Steere Park in Shreveport. I started thinking of years gone by when there was a giant metal slide or two at this park. They also had a beautiful, but rickety metal merry-go-round. My boys loved that merry-go-round. Both loved when I would push it so fast and they had to hold on for dear life. Often, they would try to stand in the middle of the merry-go-round and keep their balance while I pushed.

We were lucky. There was never a hospital visit linked to playground equipment for my sons. But we did scrape a knee, or bust a lip a time or two. Nothing to prompt me to call a lawyer and sue. I guess times have changed.

The experts in the playground world tell me many favorites from years past have been removed from many Louisiana parks because of liability concerns. Yep, people will sue over minor injuries at public parks. I don't think my parents EVER thought about doing that.

You can still find swings and some basic equipment at public parks. The playground surfaces are all now made of chopped up rubber to make sure youngsters don't get hurt if they do fall. And any kind of equipment that could lead to a battle in court is gone. That's a shame.