These date back thousands of years - research has discovered terracotta figures found in Agia Triada, Crete (c. 1450 BC), showing women swinging between two pillars. And in Korea, the traditional folk game Geune-ttwigi depict women used large swings to see over their garden walls (dating back to the Goryeo Dynasty).
The first known play area was situated in Salford’s Peel Park in Manchester in 1859 (you can read more about this on The playground archives: where it began blog). The first playground in the USA was installed 28 years later in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park in 1887.
1900s-1950s - a British engineer was recognised for designing the modern day playground swing, to prompt children’s health. These early sets were extremely high and made of galvanised steel pipes with heavy wooden or metal seats.
Mid century swing - Post World War II, the playground concept became a lot more well known and experimental in its design. Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi tried to turn swings into sculptures and pieces of art.
Piedmont Park park, Atlanta. Built 1975-76 from basswood. Image: hermanmiller.com
1970s-present day - the traditional swing set we know and love today.
The outdoor play area we designed and installed at Cameron House hotel, Loch Lomond.
Our standalone swings are constructed using southern yellow pine and can be a single swing bay (for 2 swing seats or a nest swing), right the way up to a quad - giving the opportunity for lots of children of different ages and abilities to play together.
Did you know...According to the Guinness World Records, the longest swing set measures 163.35m and was built in Fukuoka, Japan in May 2019, and can seat up to 100 children. [source: Guinness World Records] |
