Emeryville unveils new vertical playground, second of its kind in US

Tuesday, May 30, 2017
EMERYVILLE, Calif. (KGO) -- Emeryville has just opened a new playground - a brand new concept specifically designed for urban environments. It's a vertical playground.

The Emeryville Center of Community Life held a ribbon cutting Tuesday morning to unveil the next several-story structure.
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The Emeryville School District bought the structure from a company in The Netherlands. It's only the second one in the U.S. The other one is in Boston.

"I think all cities with urban playgrounds should be looking into a play structure like this. It makes sense," Said Dr. John Rubio, the district's superintendent.

The kids seem to like it.
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"I love this new play structure! It's pretty fun and pretty scary at the same time, but mostly fun. I am excited they found something different," said Raeann Al Dhaheri, a local fourth grader.

The kids may be having fun, but critics have concerns, especially how the children are unreachable so high up or who would go up to to get a child who doesn't want to come out.
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