Playground Jail Removed After Bed-Stuy Parents Fume

[KittyWampus]

Playground Jail Removed After Bed-Stuy Parents Fume
A playground jail has been dismantled at a Bedford Stuyvesant Housing Development.
By IDA SIEGAL
Updated 2:36 PM EDT, Fri, Mar 26, 2010
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Play-Jail-in-Bed-Stuy-Housing-Development-has-parents-fuming-89079147.html

One of the most popular games at a Bedford Stuyvesant playground had been "going to jail." That's because one of the jungle gyms in the Tompkins Houses courtyard included a pretend jail - with bars, a lock, and a sign that read "JAIL." Parents are calling the calling the play structure inappropriate and offensive.

Though the play jail had been on the playground for six years, a recent round in local blogs had many looking at the equipment differently. Their complaints prompted NYCHA workers to remove the word "jail" and paint over the fake lock late Wednesday.
snip

Parents and community leaders note that a disproportionate number of children from this neighborhood actually do end up in jail. Cops and robbers, a long time favorite game children, is also a stark reality in this area.
"I've been to prison myself," says parent Maurice Mosley. "It's not a good thing."

The controversy came to light when a photo was published on the website blackandbrownnews.com. Editor Sharon Tumer saw the photo on facebook and was appalled. "It's not cops and robbers. It's not 'kids will be kids.' This sends a very clear message to impressionable children."
snip

“The fact is that this community along with six others in New York City makes up the majority of the prison population in New York State,” he said. “And to have this here under the auspices of NYCHA is absolutely insulting, Lumumba Bandele, a lecturer in black history at CUNY, told the New York Times.

Sheila Sainback from the New York City Housing Authority says the play structure went up in 2004 and they'd never received any complaints before. But responding to the complaints, they have since painted over the locks and word jail.
snip

[virgogal]

1. That is the strangest thing I have ever heard of-----a playground with a jail.

[undeterred]

2. Geez, parents would freak out a lot faster in the suburbs. nt

[Rage Inc.]

3. Such a thing never would have been PLACED in the suburbs!