This guest blog post is from Alex Smith of PlayGround Chronicles - thanks Alex for this wonderful post! What's your favourite playground or piece of playground equipment? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

This top ten list of fun playground equipment is a result of flipping through photos and memories of trips to over 30 playgrounds in the last two summers. It’s heavily influenced by the fact that our kids are in the under 5 age bracket. I’m sure a list made in three or four years time will look considerably different.

With Earl’s big blow behind us, there’s still plenty of time to get out and explore our local playgrounds and test some of these top ten pieces before the north winds have their chill effect. We’ll be getting a few more reviews in before shutting down until next summer. Next on deck are the Portland Estates playgrounds.

If you have a suggestion of a playground we should visit, we’d love to hear from you. Send us a note at – playground.chronicles@gmail.com.

For the list below, click on the photos to link to more photos from the same playground and click on the bolded playground name to go to the google map location. (Note from HRM Parent: Also check out our Playground Directory for more info.)

10.

This is the eggbeater at Caudle Park Elementary School. We haven’t come across anything similar. In case you’re wondering an adult can fit and give it a twirl.

9.

See-saws are few and far between in the playgrounds we’ve had an opportunity to visit. These ones located at Ocean View Elementary School, provide a vista on the harbour entrance and the Atlantic beyond – up and down with the waves.

8.

This is the Seussian covered bridge and bubble bay (on the flip side) at John W. MacLeod Fleming Tower Elementary School. A great little spot for an improptu disappearance followed by a back again taa-da in a bubble seconds later.

7.

Twin blue whale spring riders at Tallahassee Community School 1. When you’re taking two under fives to the playground, this is the perfect play piece – no ‘me first’, no quarrels, just fun.

6.

This is the fruitalicious climbing board at the toddler section of the DJ Butler Playground. This is a nicely designed spot for the toddlers that makes them feel like big kids.

5.

This is the beam me up Scotty tire climb at the DeWolfe Park Playground in Bedford. Adults – don’t try and climb up here unless you’re on the slim side.

4.

This is the retro monkey head slide-climber combo – a relic from the 60s or 70s at the St. Mary’s Boat Club Playground. I think it’s safe to say that this is a one of kind find in Halifax.

3.

This rollicking X-Wave² at Oxford Street Public School is a ride ‘em bronco treat that will leave you sproingin’ an achin’ for more.

2.

For small ones with a love for space this shuttle at the Morris Lake Road Playground with the Shearwater base on the horizon is a must. There was a time back in the 1960s when the space motif was a colossal presence in North American playgrounds. Now, not so much.

1.

Rounding off the list in the number 1 spot is a more familiar means of transportation. We’ve dubbed this one, located at Oxford Street Public School, the magic school bus. Our first time here it was a cracking hot day and the playground was chock-a-block full of kids and the bus was getting put through its paces. That day, we made the low, low budget short below. Our son Noah wanted to replicate on a subsequent visit. On that occasion we were alone but he had just as much of a blast on the bus.

Happy playgrounding….

All materials, unless otherwise attributed or credited, copyright ⓒ 2010 Alex Smith.

Another great post from Alex Smith of PlayGround Chronicles - thanks Alex! The weather is certainly being kind to us at the moment, so get out there and get playing! :)

Ocean View Elementary School Playground (map) is perched close to the top of a hill that slopes gently from the Eastern Passage shore. It's  a sea lover's view with wild, wooly combers dancing in the harbour entrance. On a bright, clear day visibility extends for miles and miles to the harbour's western headland and beyond. In the foreground to the south and west foaming licks of ocean break around Devils, McNabs and Lawlor Islands.

This playground has two wings (photos). Closest to the road and sheltered from northerly winds but wide open to prevailing westerlies is the sliding, climbing, monkey barring equipment ensemble. Just north of this on a patch of open flat unsheltered from winds are swings, raised balancing beams and yes more of those hard to find - except apparently in Eastern Passage - teeter-totters.

This is the playground where Noah loves to drop from the sky. He releases his grip on the blue triangles and plummets nearly one metre to the ground in the company of his shining smile. This is a do once and repeat multiple times thrill as he hurtles to earth at the speed of gravity. There are also red triangles that are positioned another 15 centimetres higher. They'll wait for another day, perhaps even a new playground season.

For the older school age kids there is plenty of opportunity here for climbing, swinging like a monkey and skinning the cat on a variety of bars. We watched spellbound one evening as a couple of elementary school girls went through an impressive, impromptu gymnastic routine. There was whirling, twirling and upside downing. Fortunately there was no falling.

There is climbing potential for the pre-schoolers too. It requires close supervision as well as a steadying hand here and there. Big smiles and a sense of accomplishment are the result when the wee ones manoeuvre successfully through a new challenge. There are a number of choices, all leading to the slides, that include a curving climbing wall with hand and foot hold, an alternating sideways 'u' ladder and a stationary spring climber.

Once the climbing is done the kids can whoosh down a double slide or choose the corkscrew and slalom around the corner before touching  ground. Note one of the final approaches to the slide ensemble may be tough for some pre-schoolers. There's an oval cut out foot hold in a vertical plane to use as a step, push off. It took Nellie-Rose a few tries over two or three outings before she was able to insert her foot, push and pull herself up onto the platform. Now that she has mastered it, there is no stopping her.

There is equipment for the smaller children too. The banana slide is accessed by four wide steps with handrails on both sides. Next to it is a red curving tunnel - a wonderful echo chamber for exuberant  hooting and hollering. It is designed with peek-a-boo holes so  parents can monitor progress or wiggle fingers to elicit laughs. At one end of the tunnel is a gazebo complete with a counter for playing shop. The pebble infill makes for the perfect pretend money and can also double as merchandise, food, beverages and toys. These pebbles are really quite versatile. 

It's swinging and teetering with a view on the north wing. Because there is no shelter it's a little cooler here when the winds blow especially if they're from the north. There are four swings (none for babies) and two teeter-totters. All the equipment here and in the modular area are in good condition.

Ocean View is one of our regulars as it's close to home. There are numerous playgrounds in the area. Tallahassee Sisters II is just over the bank within eyesight and Tallahassee Sisters I is a five minute walk. There are also several playing fields for soccer and baseball. There is also a skate park a couple of minutes walk away on the same street as the playground. Plenty of fun for active bodies. It's a great spot to spend part of a day exploring Eastern Passage. Watch the ships steaming in and let the wind wash your hair.

Lots of parking available on the street and in the school parking lot. Recess and dismissal times are posted here if you're looking for a daytime window.

If you're coming by bus, take the 60 and get off at the intersection of Caldwell and Cow Bay roads. Walk south on Caldwell and turn right just past Number 16 Fire Station. Down the hill on the right is the playground, less than five minutes from the bus stop.

There are a number of attractions here in Eastern Passage and the surrounding area. Just down the hill is the Community Garden with its chess board. This is the venue for the Annual Teddy Bear's Picnic held during the Eastern Passage Cow Bay Summer Carnival. Down the road toward the city, is MacCormack's Beach and Fisherman's Cove. About five kilometres in the opposite direction is Rainbow Haven Beach.

Today we have a guest post from Alex Smith of PlayGround Chronicles, a local blog focusing on HRM playgrounds. A wonderful companion to our Playground Directory! Thanks Alex!

There is a Seussian aura here. Bright, bold blues, reds and yellows breathe life into the surrounding landscape. Curlicues, spirals and undulating curves are the order of the day. Even the font of the welcoming sign is whimsical and light. This is the École John W. MacLeod Fleming Tower School Playground (map). It's all new and driven by the community with support from a variety of partners (photos).

It must have been like Whoville that day in June when over 200 volunteers came together to build the playground. I can hear the echo of the bezangers and kisplitzers, their brizzling and fesklanking down the Purcells Cove Road. After the dust settled and the sweat subsided - behold a beautiful play area that will fuel laughter, discovery and friendships for years to come.

A boy of 10 or 11 is the sole occupant when we arrive. He's climbing to a high point and sliding down a pole - repeat - climbing, sliding down pole. I lift and place Nellie into an accessible swing. After a couple of attempts trying to lock the clasp, the boy shouts over, "That part's broken". I ask if this is his local playground. It's not. He likes it though because of the pole sliding. It's his favourite activity.

Noah and Nellie haven't advanced to pole sliding yet but there's plenty to keep them busy here. A favourite for both of them is accessing the bridge by the spiralling platter steps. Noah is able to manage this on his own. He has the necessary motor skills, depth of vision and balance. With no guardrails there is a sense of derring-do and accomplishment for him. Though not yet two, Nellie already has a well developed sense of adventure. She sees Noah one time on the spiral ascent and she's next. She requires close supervision climbing up to ensure that she stays on the platforms and there are no tumbles off into space. I help her manoeuvre from the last step onto the safety of the bridge. It's whoosh down the slide and back to the spiral climb - again and again and again.

The main access point onto the modular equipment is a wide-based metal staircase with four steps. At the top on the right is a slide for wee ones. The incline is gentle and the positioning is well designed to allow for hand holding or providing back support for babies from either side of the slide.

The platform at the top of this staircase leads directly into the yawning galoomph. The interior of this upward sloping and narrowing tunnel leads to the bridge. The ridged floor presents a challenge for Nellie and try as she might, she's not able to get the hang of it. She just can't navigate the galoomph tunnel. The close quarters make it impractical for me to try and give her a hand. It's too bad because there are five portholes on either side of the tunnel for little faces to peek out. At the top, a plexiglass bubble hangs into nothing - a great venue for public clowning which Noah discovers much to his delight. It's a little Seuss-like, see-through nest to cozy, goof, or wide-eye in.

There are multiple climbing and swinging opportunities here. Some are linked to accessing the bridge and slides. There is also a climbing wall - composite plastic with metal frames - that can accommodate two kids at a time. There's a zipper and corkscrew monkey bars for skin the cats, or hand over hand with the greatest of ease swinging.

Underneath the elevated components, there is a storefront counter, a scavenger hunt (we didn't try it this time out) and a couple of plastic drums that would be a perfect fit in any Whoville marching band. We take a break and set up our snacks on one of the benches. The kids are red-cheeked, out of breath, thirsty and in need of some healthy food to keep them going. They're not still for long. Now it's off into the schoolyard buzzing around the hopscotch and other sidewalk games. The snack is burned off is less than a quarter of an hour.

It's time for a last pass before we pack up for home. It's the swings then a last scoosh down the big slide with the bend at the top. There are more swings at the back of the school set off a piece from the playground. Up in the woods there seems to be 'play' outdoor classroom - some benches and an old blackboard. Something to explore our next visit.

It's been an enjoyable morning. Both Noah and Nellie say they want to come back. So do I.

Other places of interest in the area include The Dingle Playground and Sir Sandford Fleming Park.

There is ample parking at the school on weekends. Check the school website for recess schedules during the school year.

If you're taking public transit, the number 15 bus, in either direction, will drop you very close to the playground.

Note - the playground abuts Purcell's Cove Road. There is only a small copse of trees separating the two. It's a very busy road - exercise caution.

By Alex Smith. - I'm a busy father of four, about to be five. I am a playground aficionado for two key reasons. Playgrounds unfailingly bring smiles of joy to my kids' faces and active play is such an important ingredient in promoting healthy lifestyles. If you see a guy holding a camera balanced precariously on a piece of playground equipment, it's probably me getting shots for PlayGround Chronicles. I'm also the author of CommuterDad, the musings of a working, ferry-hopping father. I hope you enjoy this post and contact me with your ideas of playgrounds that should be covered in PlayGround Chronicles.