Having slides etc in the family's yard is a very reasonable thing. When the children are small they will probably play for 30 minutes at a time then be tired and a little hungry which then leads to a snack or meal and then some time with books, followed bya nap. I even had a climb on device on the enclosed front porch when my boy was 3. He could play for a while even when he didn't want to dress for the snow. Two years later it went to another young boy. At that itme our town didn't recycle much, we burned most combustible stuff. Nwadays we recycle paper, plastic, metal, yard waste, glass, and we also handle redirecting of appliances, CRTs and even old pharmaceuticals, and of course toxics.

One's back or front yard is supposed to be used intelligently as much as the living room or kitchen, Durability is perhaps one of the major considerations in choosing playyard equipment, as it is for the heating system or water supply.

Barbara Emeneau