Unsuitable for Minors: Potential Threat to Young Audiences
In the heart of Berlin's Neukölln district lies the popular Britzer Garden, home to a recently redesigned playground that was officially opened on June 20 by Traffic Senator Ute Bonde (CDU) and Christoph Schmidt, Managing Director of Grün Berlin. However, just a week after the grand opening, the 10-meter-high slide tower was temporarily closed due to concerns about its safety for younger children.
Grün Berlin, the managing body of the playground, has since been investigating the safety concerns and working to ensure a quick and safe implementation for the possible reopening of the slide tower. The organisation stated that all play equipment, including the slide tower, was independently and comprehensively safety-checked and approved before the opening.
Visitors have reported that many distances on the climbing tower were too large for younger children and that the top section of the slide tower was too challenging. A mother who tested the tower on the opening day reported that small children could fall during the ascent due to the climbing ropes and narrow openings, posing a risk of injuries. There was also a risk of small feet getting stuck in grid openings on the climbing tower.
Despite extensive online searches, no evidence or information about safety problems or investigations at the Britzer Garden playground slide tower has been found in the current publicly accessible sources. If you require detailed information, contacting the Berlin parks department or local safety oversight bodies directly would be the recommended course of action.
It is worth noting that a European DIN standard (DIN EN 1176) sets out the safety requirements for playgrounds, including the planning, construction, installation, operation, maintenance, and inspection. It is unclear at this time whether the slide tower was tested for compliance with this standard, particularly with regards to its ease of use for small children and the safety of its ropes and openings.
The slide tower remains closed, with a closure sign indicating "closure due to technical reasons". The Britzer Garden playground continues to be a popular destination for families in Berlin, and it is hoped that the slide tower will reopen soon, ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all its young visitors.
Grün Berlin, while working diligently to address safety concerns about the slide tower, may consider consulting the European DIN standard (DIN EN 1176) to ensure compatibility and ease of use for smaller children, particularly in regards to the climbing ropes and openings. A thorough safety check, focusing on the suitability for younger children, could contribute to a prompt and secure reopening of the slide tower in the health-and-wellness and science-oriented pursuit of providing a safe and enjoyable play experience for all visitors at Britzer Garden.
