I was asked if I would do a thread of the park that I've developed throughout the years.
I'll start off with a couple small segments, and if it seems to have interest, I'll continue.
Last night I checked the older pics (slides) that I had takin', and much of the work I did,
I hadn't takin' any pics. I took more once I finally got a digital camera maybe 10 years ago.
When I first bought the property, the upper portion was a cornfield. First of course came
the house, and then from trenching, I was able to obtain 20 or 25 10 wheeler loads of fill
dirt from the town, and used it to build up the land to build a barn. I got the pipe for free,
and used that for the barn's main frame work.

IMG_0195 (1) (resized).JPG

IMG_0197 (1) (resized).JPG

Once I started on the pond area, all I was thinking was a path where you wouldn't get your feet
wet (artesian springs), a pavilion, bench swing, and I also visualized a bridge over the pond.
A Friend came down with his dozer, and dozed out around 10" of spoil which gave me enough
fill to build up the 7 or 8' drop to cement in the anchors for pavilion. Then a Friend brought his
crawler over (a dozer but with a bucket) and we put 6" of stone down, then around 4" of cruiser
run on top of the stone. That way the springs ran underneath through the 6" of stone.
On top of the hill was the main spring. I had to keep filling in that spring with cinder blocks (that
I was givin') to keep the crawler afloat. It took two large pellets of blocks for the crawler to be able
to finish..
I need to skip many steps (picture wise) because of the lack of pics I had takin'.
Last night I took these pics from slides shown off the fridge.

IMG_0196 (resized).JPG

IMG_0200 (1) (resized).JPG

IMG_0201 (1) (resized).JPG

IMG_0201 (1) (resized).JPG

IMG_0203 (resized).JPG

Hey, you're not terribly far away. I should give you a heads up the next time there's a gathering.
There's an annual happening in August, and a Friend asked about him putting on a party next
month..
I'll post more tomorrow. I don't want to bored too many all at once. Haha!

Your welcome.
I got thinking and figured I was missing like maybe 10 years worth of slides of projects.
So I looked and dug a little deeper, and found another tray of slides. In it was
quite a few of the park, so that'll help fill in some of the gap picture wise..
I'll post again tomorrow. (T)

Okay, next after the pavilion was up, I finished the bench swing which I cemented
in the 2 vertical 3" pipes the fall before along with the 6 pavilion anchor post..
Then next was cementing in the 4 light post going down the path. I ran the wire
from the red barn's 100 amp breaker box, and I already ran the lights wiring (along
with the wire for a phone) in cased while putting the path's stone down..
It would have been nice if I had takin' more slide pics, but I guess fortunate to
have this early one of the bench and a couple of the lights. Maybe because 35mm slide
film was like $10.00 for a 24 pic roll, and another $10.00 to have it developed was one of
the reasons for limited pics. Haha..
Edit: Only one of the light post are shown. The other is blocked by the brush.
Also, next was the bird house I believe. Hard to exactly remember. These slides weren't
in perfect order. I remember that bird house being very heavy. Me in the crawler bucket is
how it got mounted..

IMG_0207 (resized).JPG

Surely, I had other projects going on up above at the house, but next for the pond was fabricating
the bridge. A Friend living in the sticks had a run down house trailer out back on his property. We burned
it down and after stripping the wood off of the beams, between a torch and a grinder, I was able to get
sections of four 20 ft. beams, and two 30 ft. beams. Because the beams doubled up at the axles, got an extra
20 ft. beam off of each side, and that's how I was able to get 140 ft. worth of beam. I knew the bridge had to be
70 ft., and just got lucky that it came out to exactly 140 ft. of beam I was able to get from the trailer..
So I borrowed a flat bed trailer, and brought the sections of beam to the Red Barn which was pretty much
empty at the time. With jigs that I rigged up, I built a 30' section of the bridge, then on top of that I built
a 20' section, then on that another 20' section so each lower section was more less a tamplet for the
section being built on top of it. That made certain that each section was the exact same width.
I took an 80" or so long paper and made a blue print where 1"=1 ft.
This way I could precisely place each cross beam (which I use 2" thick wall pipe), and 2" pipe used for
the floor crossovers, and not have them interfere with each other along with the upcoming 1" vertical piping
used for the verticals for the hand railings. Wish I had pics of the sections while in the barn, but I didn't
see any.
Then in Fall, with the help of 7 working buddies (we had a few brews after), the eight of us carried
and lined up the sections on the path going down to the pond. I had (still have) a 50' and 150' welding
extensions for the stick welder and welded up the 3 sections while they were on the stoned path.
Sorry I had to write so much, but that's because of the lack of pics to do the explaining.
If anyone is still interested, I'll write up a couple more post tomorrow..
Edit: In the pic, I used U channels every 4 ft. that came from the trailer. Later, for extra strength, I added
2" cross pipe in between each of the U channels. I got the pipe for free from old torn down greenhouses.
I can't always remember exactly how I did things until I take another look at the pics after posting when
they're larger..
Edit: I have to edit again. The 2" crossover pipe is already welded. I alternated the U channel and pipe
2 to 1. I now remember not having enough U channel so I used the pipe also by using 2 U channels
then 1 pipe. I later put the crossover pipe for the floor boards every two ft..

IMG_0198 (resized).JPGIMG_0199 (1) (resized).JPG

I play the Mini Golf once in a while, but that's about it. Had to look up disc golf,
and yes, looks to be a good Summer game..

Yea, if you get a chance to get any vintage playground equipment, not a bad move grabbing it.
So many have been scrapped..
While first working for the village, one of the parks had a push Merry-go-Round that was missing
two of the bench seats, and one of the hand railings. It wasn't anywhere near safe. That was the
first piece I was able to acquire and was the start of a few others.
It's been an enjoyable Summer hobby..

IMG_1301 (1) (resized).JPG

Hey Curius, you're the one that got the journey started!
Yes, this is my property. I have a lower backyard that can't be seen
from the front, and the park area can't be seen from the backyard,
so I didn't get permits for anything out back, and most I don't think
I would of had to..
So you live in the city limits? I got to know the vintage playground
equipment a little bit and I believe that's a "Miracle" Rocket Slide.
Being in the city limits, you probably would have to get a permit for
that size piece, but to be truthful I'd be a little surprise if you could
find one. By any chance, do you know where one might be?
I think maybe it would be just as good if you were able to get a push
Merry-go-Round, or tall vintage metal slide, and even tall swings are
getting scarce to see. During gatherings, it seems the Kids like the
Merry-go-Round and the slide best, but it seems the vintage stuff is
no longer too easy to find..
I got lucky and all but one piece came from my hometown. I was able
to save them from the scrap yard..
I have a huge disassembled swing set. If you were closer, you could
have it. I just didn't want it to be scrapped..

I can't remember where, but I know there's at least one Rocket Slide still set up. It's
huge. It has two long slides running off of it. It was in an article on line, and I believe
it was put up in 1971. It said that that town cherished it. I looked up the municiple
phone number and talked with the person in charge of grounds (or maybe Mayor, can't
remember) and let them know that I thought it was great that they kept the Rocket
Slide and how well they kept it maintained. He said that they never plan on taking it
down.I'll see if I can run across that article..
Yea, if that Rocket Slide happens to still be up, I sure would like to see pics. Actually,
I wouldn't mind seeing pics of any vintage playground equipment that's still in use.
If you google in "Vintage Playground Equipment, it shows many older pics of equipment
in the parks and school yards. Some of the playground equipment from the early 1900s
is unbelievable. Some were very dangerous..
Edit: I actually think I emailed (not called) the town that has the Rocket Slide. No big deal,
I just like to be accurate..

Hey Bill, if you did happen to make it over for the February Party, I'll have to pick up a
small ski doo for you to ride on the pond..
Actually, I usually work on the games in the Winter, and once the nicer weather comes
around I start on outdoor projects, however, this year I extended much of the work in
the game room to finish a ball bowler that needed a good size handful of work both
mechanically and cosmetically, but did get her saved..

IMG_0181 (resized).JPG

IMG_0235 (resized).JPG

To continue from last night's post, I knew I still had the blue print (diagram) of the bridge,
so this morning I took a pic. It's a little dirty, but because I drew it on a construction type
of paper, it held up okay. It's not drawn at a professional type level, but the scale 1"=1ft.
is accurate. I put it back in the barn on a shelf where it's been since I believe 1992, but this
time it's rolled up tighter with a couple rubber bands..

IMG_0290 (resized).JPG

IMG_0291 (resized).JPG

After welding the bridge's sections together, I had an aluminum flat plate with one end being
curved up, cut it in half, and used them as skis for the bridge's one end closest to the pond.
With 1x3 tubing, I had the two skis space, and bolted together, then bolted that to the one
end of the bridge.
Then when the heart of Winter came (1992/1993), with a couple pipes for leverage, 3
Friends and I slid the frame over the frozen pond. Once spring came, my neighbor gave me
permission to use his land so the crawler could bring 20 bags or so of concrete mix to the other
side of the pond to built the abutments for the bridges end rails to sit on. Unfortunately I don't
have any pics of this part of the project, but here's a pic in early spring of the frame in place before
the 2 center supports were concreted in.
Also, this morning I took a pic of the skis I made for the one end, but for some reason it won't
allow for me to load that certain pic. It's states that the file is too big. Any ideas?

IMG_0204 (resized).JPG

For the bridges center support abutment, I built a 4'x4'x4' box out of flake board,
wrapped it (for strength) with a couple of turnbuckle cables, and placed it in the water
dead center of the bridge. When ordering concrete for the basketball court behind
the house, I ordered an extra yard, and with 5 gallon buckets and the help of Friends,
carried the concrete over blanks on the bridge and poured the concrete into the wooden
box. Note: just before pouring in the concrete, I bucketed out most of the water out
the box. Of course I had help up on top for the basketball court, and I placed a couple 2.5"
thick wall galvanize pipe (capped at the bottoms) into the concrete. I kept checking for
true leveling until stiff. These were place there so later I could telescope 2" pipe inside
them to put the bridges center support at the proper level. In the first pic (I think it'll
be first) you can see the 2" support pipe.
Edit: I might add, that Spring/Summer, I built the floor only halfway, and also the bridge's
pavilion, and finished the 2nd half flooring the following year.

IMG_0206 (resized).JPGIMG_0208 (resized).JPGIMG_0205 (1) (resized).JPGIMG_0212 (1) (resized).JPGIMG_0213 (1) (resized).JPGIMG_0209 (1) (resized).JPGIMG_0210 (resized).JPG

While the frame was on the path, I was thinking how to get it to the other side,
and I remember when playing cards with a Friend and his Parents is when it just
dawned on me to slide it over the pond once frozen..
The Friends and I were younger then. It wouldn't be so easy to round many up now..
I actually did a few projects' engineering redneckingly. It saved money..

I think that Mery-go-Round you mentioned is a Pull-a-Way made by Gametime.
I've never seen one when a kid, but in late 90s/early 2000s, I was able to acquire
one that I just got done restoring last year. I'll have more pics of it later in the thread.

Hopefully someone grabbed that slide and saved it, but unfortunately like many others in the past,
a good chance it got scrapped..
Tonight I'll post some more of the development of the park..

IMG_1349 (resized).JPG

Note: Correction. Not that it matters, but the bridge is 80' long.
I got 4 - 30' length of rails, and 2 - 20 footers..
Anyways, now I needed a reason to have a bridge other than walk and end up
in thick pricker bushes. With much work (by hand), I cleared out a square spot and
planted seed. In one of the parks on the edge of town, there was a push Merry-go-
Round that wasn't very safe. It was missing 2 of the bench seats, and one of the hand
rails. So a fellow worker and I cut the main pole as low as we could, and I was able
to acquire it. Lengthen the main pole, dug a maybe 3' deep, 3' round hole. To get the
bags of concrete to the other side of the bridge, I drove the Garden Tractor pulling
a narrow trailer with maybe 10 bags of concrete mix. The rails didn't buckle.
By this time it was the heart of Summer. Notice the thick Duck Weed in the pond. Before
I straighten this out, you literally couldn't see 1 sq. inch of water..
IMG_0214 (1) (resized).JPGIMG_0215 (1) (resized).JPG

Next, on the North side of the pond (the side the pravilion is on), there was a huge pile of soil and
rocks that was left from dozing the farmland east of the pond. I had it bulldozed for fill dirt.. Three or four
ft. from the pond on the North side was a 6 - 8 ft. drop. Between the large pile of soil and digging out
the south side of the pond gave enough fill for the north side's lawn. Digging out the south side also prevented
the duck weed to form any longer. The cement in the plywood form is the 1st stage of the pond's over flow.
I only have a few pics to share. If anyone is still interested in this thread, let me know, and I'll continue..
Anyone is also welcome to share any pics or stories of vintage playground equipment they may like to
comment on..
btw: wish I had a pic of that pile of soil and rocks before bulldozed. It was huge..
Edit: I like to add. The pic with the concrete over flow, the bare ground behind the fella (a Friend) was where the
large pile of soil sat, and was maybe 10-12 ft. high..
IMG_0217 (1) (resized).JPGIMG_0218 (resized).JPGIMG_0230 (resized).JPGIMG_0231 (1) (resized).JPGIMG_0232 (resized).JPGIMG_0233 (1) (resized).JPGIMG_0242 (resized).JPGIMG_0281 (resized).JPG

Saturday was the annual August gathering at the pond, so yesterday while
the area was still looking okay, I snapped a couple pics..

IMG_0325 (resized).JPGIMG_0326 (resized).JPGIMG_0327 (resized).JPG

I haven't added anything here recently, so I thought maybe I'd write about the Global Monkey Bars.
This is jumping quite few years ahead in 2015 when I saw on Craig List a Monkey Bars that was up for
a sealed bid. It was 2.5 hours away, but it caught my eye because I've seen ones simular, but not any
that tucked globally underneath. So I put in a bid, couple weeks later a message was left that I won,
and I remember on a beautiful September afternoon I traveled and picked it up. It's the only playground
equipment piece that I restored and set up that didn't come from my home town..
I did many other projects on the park before this, but not that I took pics of with the digital..
Oh yes: The plan was to restore it the following Spring, but I jumped right on it and sanded, primed, painted
dug the circle, and cemented it in in October, then finished it up in Spring/early Summer.

IMG_0616 (resized).JPG

IMG_0619 (resized).JPG

IMG_0652 (resized).JPG

IMG_0661 (resized).JPG

IMG_0668 (resized).JPG

IMG_0669 (resized).JPG

Oh! I wasn't sure if there was much interest, so I stopped posting..
Before long, I'll go back toward the beginning and show some of
the earlier projects and what pics I may have..
I did quite a little bit of work to get that Monkeys bars planted.
Not only refurbishing it, but the only place it would fit decent is
where the see saws were, so I pulled the two Spring Riding toys,
pulled the see saws, placed them where the Spring Rider were,
then was able to prep up for the Monkey Bars.
Yes, the only other Monkeys Bars I've seen in pics that were
simularr didn't tuck underneath. The just went straight down to
the ground..

Oh, sorry. I didn't know.
I've been double busy lately.
I'll plan on posting tomorrow night..

The pics I have before I bought a digital camera are limited, but here's one of the projects
I have a few pics of..
In the path of the artisian springs was an area that was so muddy, I couldn't do much with
it, and then when the Village took down a large fence surrounding a Tennis Court, I was able to
acquire some of the 2" thick wall pipe and figured I'd use it to built the frame work for a cabin.
I had the top 10" (or so) of the mud removed, dug 10 holes (5 per side) and cemented in metal
anchor post made from 1.5" pipe that the base of the 2" frame slipped over. By using pipe framing
(not wood), made rotting from the muddy area not as much of a problem..
Then used plastic from greenhouses a mile down the road, I was able to put down 4 layers of
plastic which kept the stone that was placed on the plastic separated from the mud.
Also next to the cabin I put up a running water bathroom. Once the roofs were on, before putting
on the walls, I had the cement delivered. At that time figuring a Cement truck couldn't get all the
way to the cabin, I built a box for the pick up truck and that's how the cement got delivered from
the Cement Truck to the wheel barrels.
In one of the pics you're able to see one of the frame work's vertical pipes is missing. That's because
after reinforcing that section, I cut out that post so that a framed in picture could fold down and
be used as a table. I'll check if I have pics of that picture that can be lowered..

IMG_0251 (resized).JPG

IMG_0252 (resized).JPG

IMG_0260 (resized).JPG

IMG_0261 (resized).JPG

IMG_0262 (resized).JPG

IMG_0274 (resized).JPG

IMG_0276 (resized).JPG

The cabin and bathroom held up okay. However, one problem I had was in early Spring
when there was a melt down and then additional rain, the springs would be running too rapid
for all the water to drain in the stone, and then run in an 8" plastic pipe that I drilled holes into
and placed in the stone to carry it all to the pond. The overflowing water would collect mud
through the springs, and go under the door into the cabin, so almost every Spring I had to
scrap a thin film of mud off the cabin's cement floor.
Since the Village was only going to be scrap it, I was able to acquire a cast iron's
catch basin's frame and grate and made a catch basin ahead of the stone to catch the water
which then drained in a pipe directly to the pond. That was in 2007. Haven't had that problem since.
The only other thing is carpenter bees like to drill holes in that rough cut wood. I'm going
to have to find time this Summer to fill those holes and re-stain it. I didn't have that problem
until the stain began fading away..
I took a couple pics today. As you'll see, I made somewhat a coca cola theme cabin.

IMG_0409 (resized).JPG

IMG_0430 (1) (resized).JPG

Seems I can only send a couple pics per post. These are pics of the part of the wall (inside and out)
with the coca cola pictures that fold down and can be used as a table.

IMG_0406 (resized).JPG

IMG_0410 (resized).JPG

Only one pic at a time now (?) The files are too big.
Any idea how I would change that?

IMG_0411 (resized).JPG

Thanks! If you ever happen to travel a little south in Upstate N.Y.,
give me a little heads up. You're always welcome.
I'll post again this weekend.. (T)