playground

thumb|A modern-day playground in Argos, Peloponnese, Greece thumb|"The Golem" - a giant monster with three red tongues protruding from its mouth, which serve as playground slides, [[Jerusalem, made by the sculptor Niki de Saint Phalle]] A playground, playpark, or play area is a place designed to provide an environment for children that facilitates play, typically outdoors. While playgrounds are usually designed for children, some are designed for other age groups or older people with disabilities. A playground might exclude children below or above a certain age.

Modern playgrounds often have recreational equipment such as the seesaw, merry-go-round, swingset, slide, jungle gym, chin-up bars, sandbox, spring rider, trapeze rings, playhouses, and mazes, many of which help children develop physical coordination, strength, and flexibility, as well as providing recreation and enjoyment and supporting social and emotional development. Common in modern playgrounds are play structures that link many different pieces of equipment.