Playgrounds Bring the World of Video Games into the Realm of Physical Play

With old playground standards like slides, swing sets and seesaws losing their appeal to children of the Internet generation, equipment manufacturers have had to get more creative with their offerings. Add in rising childhood obesity rates and the need to lure kids back to the parks to behave like well, kids, becomes even more important.

Enter KOMPAN, a Dutch company that takes the idea of play seriously, with its innovative line of playground equipment that incorporates elements of modern art, sustainability and childhood development into the overall design. And to these guiding principles, the company now adds a level of digital interactivity into its Icon series in an attempt to merge the world of video games with the realm of physical play. 

While this technology is new to the US (it was rolled out in Europe in 2001) and remains rather costly (twice the price of conventional equipment), the novel KOMPAN creations have already been installed in playgrounds located in New Orleans’ 9th Ward and most recently in NYC’s affordable housing complex, Manhattan Plaza. And what’s more, the kids appear to be catching on to this outmoded concept of running and jumping around.

KOMPAN’s latest project in the town of Layton, Utah is set to open later this month.

[via Standard-Examiner]