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.

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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.

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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..

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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..

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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..

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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..

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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..

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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?

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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.

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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..

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

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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.

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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..

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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.

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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.

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

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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)

Thanks, and I have tried that on low with no luck.
A couple weeks ago I attempted to load a pic of the catch basin grate with those
other photos, and it came back saying the file was too large. Today I took a pic
pretty much in the same position, and that one now loaded. Just a few seconds after taking
that pic, I took another (showing brush where much of the spring water comes from) and
it won't allow to load. The file's too large even on low. I'm not sure what's up. Computer/
digital camera is far from my specialty.
Anyways, this is the catch basin I put in to direct the flow underground and straight to
the pond..

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Well, although gatherings were down at the pond, Kids (and Adults) used to go up on top behind
the house and shoot some hoops, so in 2013, I decided to do a little landscaping and developing
and put a court down below. I've done many projects in the area before this one, but this one I
have a few pics of..
My Brother-in-Law use to run Heavy Equipment, so I rented a Mini Excavator for a weekend and
moved around some soil. Actually quite a bit of soil, because deep at the North end of the Pond
was another good size pile of dirt and rocks which we cleared out and used for fill where a farmer
and I cut down 9 very good size trees and he hauled the wood away for the taking. There I put
additional lawn and a parking area for a couple vehicles which I believe I have pics of for another
post..

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I had to jump quite a few months to find additional pics. The grass on the slope I planted
yet in 2013, but in 2014, a couple fellas from work, my Neighbor (which is a contractor) and his
helper (also a Friend I know), laid down the concrete.
I did the prep work and framing and re-rod the entire pad. I thought I had pics.
Anyways, the Village skreeded their own top soil (from water leeks, burials, ect.) so I was able
to get top soil by filling 5 gallon pails on the pick-up. That was a lot of work, and I might be in
the minority here, but beats going to a gym and/or spend to have delivered.
The last pic in the rear is where that pile of rocks and fill dirt went. It was part of the swamp
from the springs before being filled..

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A couple other pics of the area a month later.

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And while I had stone gravel left, I spruced up the walk path to the park..

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Actually, I only have 3 acres. Except for the brush and trees that divide the
house area and pond, I pretty much use every sq. in.
Maybe kinda wish I had more, but along with the machines, 3's plenty to
keep me busy. Although, I do like outside Summertime projects..

Well, I took a good part of one Summer away from the park because my basement hadn't
any more room to set up machines, so I set out to build a building to set more machines up,
however, those plans changed. It ended up be storage for more machines, and as you know,
who knows how they gathered so quickly.
Anyways, it's a pretty good story in itself how I got the 3" pipe and angle iron, but I was able
to get much fill dirt when the town trenched the ditches. I then dug holes to the virgin soil to
cement in the anchor post.

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I then welded up the 3" pipe and angle to make the A frames, and at work, they
were tossing a couple electric winches, so I made a frame for one, bolted the frame
to the bed of the truck (that was a hell of a little Ram 50), and used it to host the A
frames onto the anchor post.

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And with 2x4s, sheeting, and T-11, I finished it off from there.
As you see, this is before I had the digital camera. I come in late
when it comes to evolution..
I found these pics in the mix, but next time will be another project
from the park..

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Well, one project that I have a few pics of is the octagon pravillion.
Maybe 12 or 13 years back, I traded a small ball bowler to a Vendor
for a 3 horse Merry-go-Round Kiddie Ride. I just stashed it in the regular
pravillion for a couple years, then decided to clear out an area and build
a circular type structure. This was before I had a compact. It was quite
a little bit of work clearing it out. I had the digital by then, but couldn't
find many pics during construction, but do have a few. This is the only pic
I could fined showing the merry-go-Round before it was restored, and still
at the regular pravilion while getting the pravillion set up for concrete..

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Now having a digital camera, I would think I would have taken pics before I got this far with the project, but I guess not. Once I got started, I must have been busy and didn't give it a thought..

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I actually built another pravillion for the other 2 smaller Kiddie Rides, but this
one keeps them out of the sun the best, so I now keep the 3 together..

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Nothing particularly special, but found one more pic..

++++++

+

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Haha, Thanks. Just wish I took more pics throughout the projects to show..

It's been a little while since I posted, so I thought I'd show another little project..
This one's a small one but happy I was able to acquire it..
I had my eye on this decaying hidden bench swing at the old abandon Psychic Center,
and got to know one of the main maintainence workers (other parts of the facility is
still active, Community College, BOCES, ect.) and with his help, I was able to get this
vintage and pretty unique bench swing..
I dug the holes, braced it up, cemented it, and got her painted up throughout the week,
and on Saturday I threw the boards on, and that Saturday night an old Buddy from pool
league came over, shot a few games, and had a few sodas (quite a few), so he had to stay
the night and the next morning he was the first to check out the swing..

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Yup, just what I started with..
The push Merry-go-Round was the first piece I was able to get and restore, and at WalMart
saw a Rustoleum color called Redwood, and thought it would go good with black and that's
what I stayed with throughout the years..

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Actually 2 or 3 times a year there's good size gatherings at the pond and there's always
Kids at the age that love the paddle boats and playgound equipment.
Saturday Oct. 2nd there's a Summer closing party, and there will be quite a few kids
that'll be excersizing the equipment..

I'm running out of room for some big projects, but still adding small ones.
Haha. Yes, when friends are over, many times it's more than a 12 pack night.

Not one of the projects this time, but yesterday Friends and I had a little closing
Summer (or seasonal) gathering and what a superb early Fall day it was..
Mid 70s with plenty of sunshine. There wasn't much wind, but enough to spread
that cooker's smoke over the pond..

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It's been a little while since I posted here, so here's a small project I put up at the pond..
Years back I would travel through this small town and say to myself I'd really like to
have one of those (there were two) umbrellas that was set up at their McDonalds.
Speed forward 12-15 years, and out of a stroke of luck (and pleasantly blindsided), the
framework of one of those two umbrellas found me..
Fall was around the corner, so I left it down below and the following year I cleaned it up,
set the anchor, a long time mechanic buddy and I set it in place with his tow truck hoist,
I painted it up, and put on the new decorative top I bought for her.
I crank it up for outings, then let it down at rest when not in use..
It's 20ft. diameter and has been a great addition to the park during gatherings..

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Yes. I'm not much of a fisherman, but I've been told it's Sunfish, Bluegill,
and Large Mouth Bass in the pond..
Before I had the fountain, a neighbor's Coya fish grew to large for his
small indoor pond, so he brought them to my pond. A few years later there
was a very bad drought, and many of the fish had died including the Coya.
Since I had the fountain, there's been a drought that was just as bad, and
there was no evidence of any fish lost. The fountain also helps a great deal
keeping the algea under control..

Yes, it's too bad. Vintage Playground equipment has been being scraped for decades.
You're lucky if you stumble upon any..
However, the next small town over has a park with a few old pieces still in use.
It's on the main highway, but deep in on the lot. I only noticed it last year and took
some pics, but I'm only able to load one. It said that the files are too large when I
try loading. I wonder if there's a way they can be minimized from this laptop?

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It's concrete, and yes, looks 70s. The other pieces there are deeper in and look to be
from the 60s. If I can't minimize the file size with the pics I have, the next time I'm
down that way, I'll try taking them again..

Yes, I tried every selection from that box, and got the same result..
Ems interest me, but this laptop doesn't, thus, I'm not so good with it..
There's other pics I can't load, and the thing is, I take them with the
same camera and never change the camera's adjustments..
If you're ever in the Newark area and like EMs, you're welcome to stop
in. I have quite a few set up and then maybe you can show me a trick
with this laptop..
Oh yes. And if you happen to be thirsty, the fridge is never empty..

Yes. I'm not sure on the manufacturer(s), but residential pump merry-go-rounds
were made..
My last large playground equipment piece that I restored operated from the same
idea as this, but it's much larger and commercial grade..
I'll have the next post project being this Merry-go-Round..

It's been a while since I posted here, so I thought I'd write about the
Pull-a-Way Merry-go-Round. It's made by Game Time which was formed
in 1929 and is still manufacturing playground equipment. The Pull-a-Way
was one of their very first pieces they designed..
This was (more less) hidden for years behind a shut down institution.
Years back I was lucky enough to acquire it, and after having it parked to
the side for years, in the Fall of 2017, I finally placed it on a trailer for
restoration the following Summer..

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That following Summer I sand blasted it, placed it back on the trailer,
and took a pic with it primed (and partially painted)..

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Well, it appears a month of photos are hidden away someplace showing other
steps of the project along with the forming of the circular concrete pad, so I now
have to jump to where the Pull-a-Way is sitting on the pad.

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The following Spring I put on the 8 bench seats.
I think there's a video on youtube someone took with it in action.
I'll check if I can find it..

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This was during a gathering on a 4th of July weekend.
It's a little blurring, but you can see she can hold quite
a few people..

I have to be truthful. That thing can be a pretty good workout.
I've never timed the RPMs, but when you're on it and look outward
(like long distance), everything is blurry. People have gotten off of
it and staggeringly fell to the ground..
Most grown ups don't like going too fast, but for me, that's one part
that hasn't yet grown up.
It's my favorite playground equipment I restored. I'm very pleased to
have it. I've never seen one when growing up..

Haha. The Merry-go-Round. Yea. I was a little worried about your drive home..

Not from the Development of the Vintage Park, but from a park in a
neighboring town. It's on Main St. but kinda deep in and it was just last
year when I surprising spotted it still being in use, and being so close by to
where I get a hair cut, a couple weeks ago I took a few pics..

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I don't remember hearing about American Playground Device Company, so I had to look
them up and it seems they opened in the early 30s, and appears they're still manufacturing
playground equipment. Maybe even still from their original facility..
I already have 3 park grills from the 50s/60s, but if I had the American Playground, I could
easily find a nice spot to park it. That one looks to be maybe from the 40s..
One of the park grills I was able to get is a mobile grill. After a little fabricating, she's solid
and very usable..

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I'd maybe think the Rocket has a good chance of being USA made.
Miracle Playground Equipment (which formed in 1927 and still going
today) was known for their Rocket Slides in the 60s and 70s.
Unlike so many others, it's nice your Community didn't scrap that
vintage piece of history..

It's been a little while since I posted here, so I thought I'd show another project
I did down at the pond area.
I needed a spot to park a couple Kiddie Rides, so I asked a Friend if he thought an
umbrella type structure would look alright for the rides, and he said sure. Why not?..
So I picked up a couple I Beams from the scrape yard, welded them together, dug
and formed a hole, and cemented it in..
I'll write and show in segments. Appearantly the pic files are to big to send too many
at one time..

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Next, between my compact tractor and I, I got some of the metal
supports for the roof attached.
At this time I put in a sealed bid for a Global Monkey bars, and won,
so I started on that project, and left this project until the following Spring..

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Here we are the following Spring in May, and have the roof's
wood studs all on.

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Looks like I went quite a little ways before taking any other pics.
The roof's sheeting and shingles are all on..

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Next, I formed for the cement.

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Here's 3 Fellas I worked with that helped me rake and lay the
cement. I thought maybe there would be some uphill wheel
barreling, but the Cement Truck was able to climb up there,
which was a huge plus..
Oh yes, I wrapped the I beam before ordering the cement, but
didn't take any pics of that process..

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And the 2 kiddie Rides under their roof.
I now keep those 2 rides together with the 3 Horse Merry-go-Round.
The Merry-go-Round's pravillion blocks much more of the sun.
I now have a bench swing in this one. It's where I drink my nice Spring
and Summer days early morning coffee..

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And where the 2 Kiddie Rides are now.
I can't find a pic with the bench swing,
so I guess that's it for this project..

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Yes. Although I sealed them, I didn't want to take chances of
them fading and pealing. It happened to the 3 horses on the
Merry-go-Round the first time I painted them. I sealed them the
2nd time..

Hey Jim. I don't have much more room for any large projects,
but I'm sure I'll be doing some smaller ones. I'll report them here..

Although the zip line and wooden jungle gym was torn down, does
the park still have some vintage playground equipment? If so, I'd
like to see some pics sometime.
Yea, the Zip Line I might have to look into. It would absolutely get
used. There's one party ever year where half are Kids. They'd love it,
and I'm sure me too..

South Dakota! I wouldn't have mind seen a pic of that.
It was in a public area?
I still have the Loop the Loop in the upper garage.
You know what size legs it suppose to take. I thought
28.5" which may be accurate, but it puts it a couple
inches lower than the Gottlieb pins..

Not a big project this time, but certainly a little time consuming.
Last year a tree had to come down, and I asked a Friend if he thought welding chain links together
and displaying a flag inside and perching it up on the high trunk of the tree would long okay, and he
immediately said Yes! So last Fall I cut it around 15 ft. up. Last month I made the base and the chain
linked pole, and today I wire tied in the flag and Patronized the pond.
It is pretty side heavy, but with the help of the compact tractor, it went up fairly easy..

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Because it would be 10 years that my Neighbor's husband past away (boating accident),
last May she asked if it would be okay to have a memorial gathering down at the pond
on July 8th. It turned out to be a beautiful day and a nice gathering..

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Yes. All the playground equipment got used throughout the day, along with much paddle boating and swimming.
Kids had a great time. Campfire, marsh mellows, and smorgs at night..