They should rip out this dangerous "Mountain" and replace it with something a little safer. For example, a large steel frying pan with a non-stick surface, so that the youngsters' scorched skin won't stick to the surface in unsightly patches.

The real question is what the point of these newfangled playground structures are. My 6 year old and my 3 year old were totally mystified by the new Union Square playground, and passed it up for the old-school geodesic dome surrounded by sand at the west side of Union Square. . . which has now been ripped out. It's not a question of sheltering kids from playground equipment, but really, is it even fun?

To all you "the kids need to man up" types:

1. I grew up here too, was born in the 1970's with Riverside Park was my backyard. Same monkey bars, see-saws, and metal box on chains design, baby swings (remember those!) you are all talking about. My mom and G-ma are from Manhattan too and they played in vacant lots as kids.

2. I have 2 kids now and live in Ft Greene where they have put good $$ into the playgrounds.

The 'new model' playgrounds have replaced the old dangers with major design flaws created by trying to 'do something' about the 'problems' that used to exist, including:

a. The black padded ground which burned the skin off my kids feet.

b. The removal of most of the 'big kid swings' (i.e. two chains and a metal board/rubber strap) and installation of many new black plastic baby swings. Bigger kids try to use the baby swings, which they either get their foot stuck in, or if they stand up, they damage the swings for everyone.

c. The abstract/surrealist designs of some of the climbing structures (instead of monkey bars) is baffling and a regular cause of injury.

Point is, in attempting to make things safer, they have made them worse. The designers must be childless and disappointed that they didn't get to make a living making Ikea style furniture.

My 3 yo boy fell off the big kid swing 2 months ago, was afraid of it for a few weeks, until I talked him back on. Now he is proud of himself that he can do it again. That is growing up.

The new playgrounds inspire fear. The old playground did too, but there wasn't a glossy coat of 'we spent 2 Mil, so it's safe' slapped on top. it's a false sense of security, so parents get complacent, and are never forced to teach the kids to watch out for themselves.

But don't attack the parents. They have a reasonable gripe. We need to call out the Parks Dep't for spending a fortune only to make things worse. I know fingers were lost on the see-saws and brain damage occurred after falls from the monkey bars, but the new designs are actually worse than the originals.

Not all improvements are progress.

Burning my legs on slides and merry go rounds and other metal playground equipment when I was a kid made me the person I am today!

Wow. A dozen "I used to walk 5 miles, uphill, both ways, to school everyday" posts already.

I can't imagine how awful that slide pictured above is going to smell, after homeless people are sleeping inside of it all summer.

I grew up in the 1970s when life wasn't so politically correct. I fell off the merry go round, my brother fell off the monkey bars, we climbed up on hot metal slides wearing shorts and slid down, and guess what...we lived to tell about it. Children are more resilient that some parents give them credit for.

playground equipment and flooring has always gotten hot as shit. handle it.

word... are they going to start complaining that sand gets too hot on the beaches next?

Good lord. When I was a child, you fell off the monkey bars and your Mom just took you to the doctor, but not until she yelled at you. Gosh, stuff on the playground is challenging? Is that really a bad thing for your fat little kid?

I saw the greatest playground in Essex County get shut down by parents like this. It still burns me up.

You'd think page one of the playground design handbook would say do not use materials that will get hot enough to burn flesh.

seriously! do these designers forget these things will be outdoors?

a playground? a *t0rture chamber?

i always get those mixed up too.

*seriously, gothamist?

Parents are too paranoid today. Back in the day, if I fell off the monkey bars, I may have cried a little, but I eventually got back on. I'm pretty sure I got uppercut in the chin by a seesaw, but that didn't keep me away. I've thrown up after spinning on the tire swing, and went on spinning after finished. aaah childhood, those were the days.

did any of these parents grew up in NYC?

stuff will get hot, just don't get on it.

I remember the wooden see-saw, it got hot, it could hurt you and you can get splinters. you get on it at your own risk. and we liked the Bumps.

"These rides challenge you physically as it is actually difficult to hang on to them... how long will it be before someone gets hurt."

Oh my god.. imagine a ride that actually presents a physical challenge? God forbid anyone present a physical challenge to the expanding population (no pun intended) of obese children in our city!

This is silly! Haven't slides and other metal playground equipment always gotten hot in the sun? If it's too hot, do something else, like swing! Kids(parents!)these days...

You're right, metal stuff does get hot, but have you seen what it is exactly ?

It's a HUGE METAL ORB.

It gets exponentially hotter as it has more surface area to heat up. The slides are OK.

Exponentially? Really?

"These rides challenge you physically as it is actually difficult to hang on to them... how long will it be before someone gets hurt and parents cry for their removal.""

Lord, if you're that concerned with your kids safety why don't you all do us a favor and just keep your kids in a hermetically sealed bubble so he won't ever get physically hurt and we won't have to hear your whining.