Devastation.

http://blog.cleveland.com/sunmessenger/2010/11/arson_is_declared_cause_of_fir.html

Beautiful, wonderful Bexley Park, which was an ideal play environment for children with special needs as well as typically developing children, was destroyed by arson last night.  We are so sad in this house, so happy we have so many photos of us playing there, but unsure as to how the gap in our playground lives will be filled as the city decides how to regroup from this horrible event.  More importantly, we are horrified that someone would commit this kind of crime, this crime that takes from a community in such as personal, tangible way.  As Emma rightly noted, "The police need to catch that bad person and put him in grown up time out."  Indeed, young Padawan.

It's never too cold to play

I have never understood parents who let a little snow prohibit their attempts to utilize public playgrounds. The fact is, kids don't care, and their brains need the fresh air. Nothing nips cabin fever in the bud than a good swing and a climb. This past Thursday was cold (30 degrees) but sunny and no wind, so I loaded the girls up for a jazz around Bexley, or as we call it, Sleeping Beauty park (the castle is determinative). We had the entire place to ourselves (which I expected, and which the girls found disappointing) and after an hour we were ready to head home. However, the sleep was deep that night, and they were clearly happier for having had the time outside. While I am always on the lookout for new playgrounds, in this climate, sometimes local and familiar will get the job done in a winter's pinch.

Quarry North, corner of Belvoir and Monticello, South Euclid, OH

We found this by accident. With the leaves falling, we were able to see beyond the the Dog Park in the front of the property. What a find!

What's good: a fenced in toddler climber, lots of fresh wood chips, a snack pavilion, a bigger-kid old school style climber series (it's treated lumber instead of a plastic), excellent parking, toilets, and it's right next to this excellent looking "wader pool with sprinklers" thing that I am totally checking out next summer. The green twisty slide in the toddler area has just enough go to make kids feel like they're on an adventure--as you can see by Ellie's boot in the air, she had some torque going.

What's bad: the toilets are not open in the winter. Bummer if you're like me and drink a lot of coffee. The big kid climber is a little daunting, and the yellow slide on it has some serious zip to it and is a little high off the ground--Ellie fell off at the end.

Overall grade: A- (a little kid could really get a bruise off that yellow slide)