Playground equipment stirs debate

Parents, residents and community organizers are concerned about play ground equipment at a particular Brooklyn housing project. The equipment, in addition to the typical monkey bars, swings and slides, has a section resembling a prison cell with the word “jail” over it. The company that manufactured the equipment has stated that this is the only occurrence of its type, and that this is the first time complaints have been logged since the equipment was built in March 2004. It is likely that the surge in complaints is a result of pictures posted on the website, Black and Brown News.


The New York City Housing Authority has already painted over the signage, and is assuring residents that this is a singular occurrence. Public relations staff for the company that built the set, Landscape Structures, is denying jail themed products. Several other companies that specialize in play ground equipment are echoing this, saying that having specific prison text is unheard of.

While it is possible to pass blame on who produced the equipment, what is undeniable is the tact lacking in the act itself. To place prison themed equipment in a housing project, areas known to have disproportionate levels of incarcerated individuals, certainly sends the wrong message to children. It is interesting, though, to consider that it has taken 6 years for any complaints to arise.

Perhaps the level of apathy, apparent on both sides of the issue, is best summed up by 5 year old Destiny Garcia. She liked the prison sign because it reminded her of her father, currently serving time on gun possession charges.