Playground fun

Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, young earthlings were allowed to climb on cool playground statues.  This particular dinosaur is named Uncle Beazley.  I'm the blonde at the top.  From the studios of Louis Paul Jordan  he created a series of dinosaurs for the 1964 World's Fair in NYC, as part of the Sinclair Oil Pavilion.  The original Triceratops was recently restored and is on display at the Louisville Science Museum. Jordan created replicas of the original World's Fair dinosaurs — this is one of those. Uncle Beazely was on display on the National Mall in DC for years — it is now on the grounds of the National Zoo.  I remember climbing on Uncle Beazley, and it's always been a great memory.

For years I've periodically looked for one of the great concrete turtles that were in playgrounds.  I REALLY want one for my backyard.  I like kitsch.  My cousin Leeann shared the photo of Uncle Beazley on Facebook and I went searching for the story behind them.  It turns out the great turtle I remember was created by Jim Miller-Melberg.  It turns out he sculpted several of the playground structures I remember from my childhood.   And, it turns out there is a Facebook fan group.  Of course I had to join!  I have always liked these and remember playing on the big turtles.  This is a photo of my cousins with one near their childhood home.  Aren't they cute?

Jim started Play Forms and produced the sculpted concrete structures.  It turns out the company was near where I live in South Lyon, Michigan!  He had a concept of letting kids play on structures that resembled art and thought it would influence them in the future.  

One day I'll have one of these turtle play structures.  Knowing they were made just down the road there has to be one lurking nearby.  What were your favorite play structures?