"Many Abilineans who have lived here a long time remember the metal slides and equipment that we had," says Lesli Andrews, with the City of Abilene's Parks Division.
The old metal playground equipment you may have grown up with has now been replaced with more modern slides and swings for today's generation.
Shay Wade, a mother of two, says, "I think it's nice, I think it's really nice."
However, a very real danger still exists. That playground equipment burning the skin of young children.
"I'm actually very surprised that you can get burned at the park," says Wade.
But it does happen. Several years ago, Christy Linley's daughter received second degree burns sliding down a metal slide.
Linley says, "I was really shocked. I didn't think it would actually be hot enough to burn their skin like that."
It only takes seconds. And though Abilene's parks no longer have that sort of equipment, the plastic still heats up significantly. Enough to cause the same sort of injuries.
"Now this city park does have awnings up above to protect children from those hot temperatures. But once the sun changes places in the middle of the day, some equipment is still exposed to those high temperatures."
"It makes you more cautious of it. It makes you want to check before you turn them loose to let them go play," says Linley.
And that's exactly the advice city officials give to parents: To use their best judgement when it comes to their children.
The old metal playground equipment you may have grown up with has now been replaced with more modern slides and swings for today's generation.
Shay Wade, a mother of two, says, "I think it's nice, I think it's really nice."
However, a very real danger still exists. That playground equipment burning the skin of young children.
"I'm actually very surprised that you can get burned at the park," says Wade.
But it does happen. Several years ago, Christy Linley's daughter received second degree burns sliding down a metal slide.
Linley says, "I was really shocked. I didn't think it would actually be hot enough to burn their skin like that."
It only takes seconds. And though Abilene's parks no longer have that sort of equipment, the plastic still heats up significantly. Enough to cause the same sort of injuries.
"Now this city park does have awnings up above to protect children from those hot temperatures. But once the sun changes places in the middle of the day, some equipment is still exposed to those high temperatures."
"It makes you more cautious of it. It makes you want to check before you turn them loose to let them go play," says Linley.
And that's exactly the advice city officials give to parents: To use their best judgement when it comes to their children.
