When did everything being built just start going downhill dramatically? This is my kids' playground at our public park... it was built just TWO YEARS AGO. This is what it looks like today. Why did people stop caring about building things that last?

The wood fort playgrounds were top-tier.

We also have people that will go out of their way to destroy anything nice that is built.

It WAS built to last with responsible people, but not with vandals. Nothing can last when the barbarians mob it long enough.

It's crazy that you think this deteriorated on its own and not through the actions of nons

These never broke

Say what you want about 1970s playground equipment, that stuff would survive a nuclear holocaust.

You live in a blue city. Every blue city turns to sh!t.

It was the Mom's fighting for change because her little brat skinned his knee. Instead of letting the kid learn his lessons like the rest of us did.

Playgrounds made of wood and sand were the ultimate test of a kid’s ability and fear tolerance - jumping into the sand from 15 feet up, spinning the carousel so fast you’d fly off it, all without a scratch. Lawsuits and our low-trust society (needles, etc) took that all away.

The manufacturer of the turf should be sued. The lifespan of rubber flooring (also called rubber surfacing) at an outdoor public playground typically ranges from 8 to 15 years, depending on the specific type of rubber system, installation quality, maintenance, usage intensity, and local climate. 

China and planned obsolescence go hand in hand

Cutting corners to save money. It's a shame. Now days everything is built to only last a certain amount of time. Job security

We used to have such craftsmanship in this country. Everything was built to last. Then our government sold us out to the cheapest dollar. Items now that are made in China do not last. We live in a disposable world. I hold on to everything that I have from the 60/70/80’s when everything was made in the USA!

Funny that these never broke...

That's easy: 1.) The Fed destroyed value; and 2.) DEI destroyed the work ethic.

Why are parks going downhill so quickly? Exhibit A: Desegregation.

Built to survive lawyers, not kids.

Where are the swings and monkey bars? All that other stuff made to look colourful and mostly plastics is boring and can't withstand the years and wear needed.

I actually know someone who sells playground equipment to schools, etc. I asked him the same thing and he told me that they have so many rules and regulations now. So they can’t get too creative and have to keep things simple like this.

Is it just that it was poorly built, or are things also damaged and broken because of different types of people in the neighborhood that are more destructive?

Man I remember when our city park got a play area built, I was probably in late elementary school (maybe 1994). It's still there. Then again it was built with wood and not whatever was used here. Probably cost a lot more too but that's quality over price.

Code. We replaced our wooden playground at church as it was considered unsafe. $100,000 later it is compliant and we saved $50,000 installing it ourselves. YMCA use our church for after school care and special events and the do rent but members kicked in the money as no grants were available.

Fill that area with some GenX gravel and everyone will be GTG

Playgrounds used to be funded by community efforts; fundraising, bake sales, sweat equity. Thus, the community had ownership and pride in them. Now, it’s paid by the general fund and many people pay no taxes into the park, but use it as an entitlement. And we all know when people don’t value something, it is abused and no longer maintained.

The turf might not have been installed correctly or the wrong kind for your area. The rest looks like someone just flat out destroyed it. The mallets for the large instruments--from this looks to be cut, the trash is because people don't care.

Parks had sand or wood chips when I was a kid, and the equipment was metal .

We live in the Age of Incompetence - an era of bureaucrats over builders. If they build something that lasts, how do they justify future budgets for repairs and maintenance?

No idea when building got so bad!

In my day, everything was made out of metal. We slid down a 200° stainless steel slide in the summer into the mud puddle below and we liked it.

Simple as

we need to bring back the merry go round... heck... they used to put mulch down at the school i went to... that made us tough... and to think... I am only 40

and yet your party fights against taxes. who do you suggest pays for these repairs/upgrades?

Special materials require specialized maintenance. Clearly no one is bothering to fix anything