Ever since the new Vanderbilt Playground opened a year and a half ago in our nabe, Sasha has been fascinated with "da spidahweb,"the big rope-and-steel structure pictured below. He wanted desperately to climb it but couldn't even get his feet off the ground. After months of determined effort and observation, he was finally able get his feet up. Then, eventually, onto the first real level. Then, this week, a big milestone. With patient instruction from his good friend Emilio, he climbed halfway up, higher than my head. (Emilio is his mentor, a beloved big boy, his best friend from school. Sasha's amused and flattered that Emilio calls him "my buddy.") That's him in the green shirt.
The height of his new achievement Sasha calls The Bicycle. We asked him why he calls it that and he said, like we're dummies, "Because it has a seat. And the poles." He sat in the position pictured below for at least 20 minutes, just looking around, enjoying the view-- and pride in his impressive new accomplishment.
When the playground first opened, this structure got the most attention from the parents, too, who were concerned that it was going to send children to the hospital on a painfully regular basis. To the surprise of many, however, this appears to be the safest piece of equipment in the whole playground. I've seen far more kids cry on the baby swings.
The genius of it is that it's almost impossible to fall off. Even if you slip or lose your grip, you can't fall more than a foot. The ropes are threaded in such a way that there's never a direct route down. Even if a kid was hell-bent on jumping off, the poles are angled sufficiently away from the edges of the orb that even tossing yourself off is nearly impossible.
The best part, in my opinion, is its old-school thrill. Virtually every kid in the playground wants at least to try it. And it requires such a range of abilities, that it will take literally years for a tot like Sasha to eventually make it to the top. There's pride of accomplishment at each level, kids inspire and teach each other, and physically it's very difficult. Great for physical and mental fitness.
After reading your description of this steel & rope beauty, I thought, well, spiders never fall out of their web, so dah spidahweb it is. And kids can't fall out of it. Right on, Brooklyn Boy! And that this "spidahweb" is for all levels and ages. (Have you guys tried it?) And congratulations for making it to "The Bicycle!" Glad your friend was there to encourage you. And hey, what's with the short-sleeved t-shirts? It's 52 degrees here, windy, and raining. ha ha.
ReplyDeleteOh I can totally imagine his pride---I remember his perseverance on da 'web last year!! And that picture of him and his buddy?? So sweet!!
ReplyDeleteLove the thought process that informs him his perch is a bicycle. Very interesting. You captured his "pride" in middle picture very well. Your description of the engineering of the "web" makes me think you missed your calling! I love Mollie's question of whether you've tried climbing it. That's so cute that Sasha's flattered that his friend calls him his "buddy." So cute.
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