Summer is often a time where children flock to playgrounds to enjoy time outside, but a growing group of parents in Chicago is raising concerns after they say their children came home with wounds from school playgrounds.
Sarah Hensel said her children have received stitches and sprained ankles after playing at Boone Elementary’s playground on Chicago’s North Side.
“A kid should have a safe place play,” she told NBC 5. “They shouldn’t be coming home every day with blood dripping down. I’ve also given first aid to neighborhood kids.”
And Hensel isn’t alone.
Another Chicago Public Schools parent said her daughter came home with a gash on the back of her leg after playing at the nearby Stone Scholastic Academy playground.
“This is ridiculous,” said Cassandra Kaczocha. “This is not an environment children should be on.”
Kaczocha started the hashtag #CPSPlaygroundSoBroke on social media to voice her concerns about the busted and often flooded equipment.
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Other parents quickly jumped on board and began posting photos of other problem playgrounds around the city.
“Parents all over the city told us they have the same problems,” Kaczocha said. “That their playgrounds are dangerous, the equipment is unusable, the play lots flood.”
The group of parents has been pushing CPS to fix the play areas, They have also applied for grants through nonprofits in an attempt to give their children a place to play outside.
CPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the concerns.
