Road Trip 2025 (9 B) - Post Scriptum about the "Big Ball of Sticks"

 

In the comments to yesterday's post I got questions about the "big ball of sticks" in the playground at Astrid Lindgren's Näs. I did wonder about that myself when I was there. I saw children climbing in and out of it, so it was obviously hollow inside. But I could not relate it to any special story that I remembered.

Just now it occurred to me to try and ask the omniscient (?) Google AI about it. Below is the answer that AI gave me (translated by me from Swedish to English):

"The big round hut at Astrid Lindgren's Näs is not part of the original playground or exhibition, but an artistic work or installation created to represent a place where her stories take place. It is designed for children to play in it and experience and act out the stories in a new way, just as in her books."

Playground

 

In the middle of the housing estate where I live, there is park-and-playground area. The other day when I was passing by (lunchtime, weekday, and kids in school) it happened to be all empty; so I grabbed the opportunity to take some photos. (While I quite like to include people in my photos, the people may not be so keen on it...)

Enclosed playground for the youngest (usually accompanied by parents).

Playground for adults, with boules court, a communal barbeque, and picnic tables.

 Somewhere to seek shelter from sun or rain.

 

And the most recent addition, just recently inaugurated: Something they call a "multi arena", where various kinds of ball games can be played. (For the somewhat older kids.)

 

 

And this they call an "outdoors gym".

 

These two I suppose are intended to encourage kids to throw litter in the right place...
(Good luck with that!)

 

Investigative Journalism

On my previous post, readers asked questions about the "big green balls" that could be seen in some of the photos - for example this one:

This made me realise that all I knew myself was that they belong to some kind of playground contraption. As I have no little children to accompany me to playgrounds and keep me up to date with things like that, it's never really occurred to me to explore further. 

Other people wanting to know always raises my own curiosity as well, though - so on my next walk through the park, on a quiet Thursday morning, I stopped to take a couple of photos while there wasn't anyone playing with it. 

I'm afraid I still can't say that I "get it", though.

I contemplated going up even closer to investigate, but decided against it. In my head, I could see imaginary headlines: "Senior citizen taken to hospital after trying to climb rope ladders in playground. 'I just wanted to see the inside of the big green balls,' the 67-year-old woman claims, without being able to properly explain her motives. She was also carrying a camera, which has been handed over to the police."

Easter Saturday Surprises

Walking past a preschool today (Easter Eve), I was able to zoom in some of the wooden "toy sculptures" in the empty playground.

 

Happy Easter

Shadow Shot Sunday: Playground

Cheating a little bit here… These are really Thursday shadows. Today has been all grey and wet, and I haven’t set foot outdoors!

Hopscotch & Roses

Scanning through recent photos for the colour red (for Friday My Town), these are what I came up with – from a short walk last weekend.

Actually what caught my eye in the playground was not really the locomotive (I’ve seen it before!), but the hopscotch course drawn in the sand. I’m not sure I’ve seen one of those since back in my own childhood!

And a rose, of course, “is a rose is a rose is a rose”…¹
even if it might smell as sweet by any other name.²
(It’s “ros” in Swedish too, though.)

¹ Gertrude Stein
² Shakespeare

FMTSO: The Colour Red

Queen of the Castle and Captain of the Ship

A new playground is being built at the bird sanctuary lake. The old one is situated higher up on the hill but I guess the new position closer to the water will provide easier access (especially for those with prams to push!) - and a nice lake view for the parents.

I think this construction is meant to resemble a ship:

Ruby Tuesday Too