They are ingrained memories of steep, graffiti ridden slides made from metal which was ice cold in the summer and scorching hot in the summer. And they had nothing but concrete to break a fall. Gripping on to roundabouts with fear of slipping underneath by the ankles and see-saws which flung the lightest child into the air before a painful bump back on the seat. The generation survived what were eventually branded perilous playgrounds. Your memories reflected the era. Kath Coops said: “I fell off a swing onto concrete had two stitches and straight back on swing. Told to be more careful! And Catharine Boyle commented: “Claremont Park was the best with the witches hat and crows nest slide. Best park ever!” In case you missed them: 19 nostalgic scenes to take you back to Blackpool in 1980
1. Parks from the past
Waddington Road Play area in January 1987. The caption on the back of the photo says 'swings, slides and see-saws have been condemned as dangerous and should be removed immediately to prevent accidents' Photo: National World
2. Parks from the past
The councils were always up against it when it came to vandalism and in particular, graffiti, as this mess shows back in 1989 at the playground near Bispham Library Photo: National World
3. Parks from the past
This is how we remember slides from the 70s and 80s - all graffiti scrawled and cold - like this in Park View Playground 1983 Photo: National World
4. Parks of the past
This was Highfield Road playground in 1993. On the back of the photo it was described as a 'death trap' and was ready for a full restoration Photo: National World
5. Parks of the past
New play equipment at Fleetwood's Memorial Park was in place in 1988 Photo: National World
6. Parks of the past
This was the scene at a park Over Wyre, we are thinking Preesall? Photo: National World