WILKES-BARRE TIMES-LEADER EDITORIAL: …To help you stay fit and have fun, communities such as West Pittston, hopefully soon to be joined by others in our region, plan to install senior playgrounds – places reminiscent of where you probably spent your school recesses. These sites differ, however, in that the equipment and games are geared for a slightly lower-intensity workout. Picture stationary bicycles and bocce rather than a towering set of monkey bars and a rapid-fire round of four square…
First popularized in China almost two decades ago, the senior playground concept has since hopscotched to Japan, Europe and Canada. At least 15 cities in the United States, including Harrisburg, reportedly have joined the trend.
SeniorPlanet.org, where the catchphrase is “aging with attitude,” published an August 2015 article titled “Playgrounds for Seniors Coming Your Way” outlining the purpose behind the proliferation of senior-suited recreation areas. “The best installations help to improve balance and minimize the risk of falls, build muscle strength and tone, extend your range of motion, and improve your manual dexterity,” the article stated… (more)
