Playgrounds: Are they public health?
This past summer, the city of Brookings, Oregon received notification that they would receive nearly $50,000 from the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation to replace current worn and broken playground equipment at Brookings’ Easy Manor Park. The city already approved $33,200 for the project.
This fall, the city of Corvallis will ask voters to approve a $13.6 million bond measure, some of which will pay for major improvements at Chintimini Park, playground equipment in ten other parks.
Do you think these are moneys well spent?
Does playground policy affect the public’s health?
Take the poll:
4 comments


I definitely believe that playgrounds are a public health issue. I think they are also a visible sign of health inequities in our communities. A quick drive (or bike ride!) around most communities will reveal that the wealthier areas of town have nice, safe playgrounds, while many of the low income areas have few and/or unsafe playgrounds.
I’m writing from Corvallis, where the bond measure was defeated. However, I don’t think this was a referendum on the importance of parks. Rather, there were some controversial aspects of the bond measure that made it less appealing to some.
I hope to see parks and playgrounds continuing to be included in the public health arena.
Karen