Silent Playground

Wow, weird ass shit

Compelling image. Very nice perspective from the ground. Like seeing it through the eyes of a child at play.

Forgive me for saying, But what Parent in their right mind will lock up a child in an institution

Almost makes you think, they would have
lived better lives if they were not born at all(well at least not in their live time)
I mean just to get put in to some place for the
rest of their lives,ust seems unfair.

One of the things you have to consider is the fact that back in those days (50-60 years ago and beyond) there wasn't much in the way of social services. Hell, there wasn't really even any Special Education classes for children who had emotional problems or mental handicaps. So, if a child had issues, the only options were to stay home with family all day, every day, or to be institutionalized. If a child requires assistance 'round the clock, that is very taxing on the family. Also, if one were to seek outside assistance, that woud be very expensive. Nowadays there are medicaid programs that can pay for the assistance, then, there was no such thing, so many parents felt their hands were tied. Add that to the social stigma attached to having a child that was "not right in the head" or "feeble minded" and you get mass institutionalization.

People, please join me in giving Shytown a standing ovation, please.

Standing along side Lynne, Shytownmofo, I think I love you.

this is THE BIKE!! its a landsmark of KPPC..

Shytown, excellent statement!! And this photo is haunting, regardless of wether the children were visitors or patients. It speaks of lost innocence to me.

i wanna take that and imm thinkin about talkin it so see for the last time

Well said Shy =)

xplorer, you shouldn't really take things from these places, though I guess it's your own choice. Taking photos is one thing, but stealing is another, and you can get in loads more trouble for stealing than simply tresspassing.

I love this shot Motts. Well, which shots don't I love...? Oh well, I like the innocence of the trike.

It reminds me of "after the bomb" photos. And a particular episode of the original Star Trek TV show.

ok its like 1 in the morning and this shit is freaking me out lol... keep up the good work Motts

the KPPC pictures are great.. i live near it and they have a fence around bulding 93 and the place is patrolled by security like you wouldn't believe

why dont they just clean out the hospital.. i mean are the ppolice that scared to even touch stuff..

This was a day care center called Playground on the Sound. It was a day care for the employee's kids. It served many in our community.

There were staff children areas, but there were young children as resident patients ,too. Many unwanted babies were put into the mental hospitals, those with physical disabilities, too. Back then, the resources didnt exist. Sometimes they advised letting the "defective "infants starve to death, and not even institutionalize them. The shot of the smaill child's trike certainly puts that all into perspective. Thank God the prospects are better today.

how can i get back there?!?!!!!

I wondered who was the last person that rode it?

A child had some fun riding this. I just wish it weren't left behind. It could have made someone else happy.

I was a patient there in the early 1980's. I was taken against my will on a involuntary order. I was so scared. At the time , I was told that this hospital was the end of the line. It should be noted that I was only 20 years old at the time. KPPC brings back so many horrible memories. The wards were so bad that the visitors were not allowed to see them. They had a visitors room before you got on the unit. I felt as though I was in jail. I am thankful today to have survived my ordeal and be a productive healthy individual no thanks to KPPC

wow thats really sad pic...

This is an amazing picture!!

thats freakin creepy

Arl46, What building, what ward.

Any bouncy horses for me to ride?

how little were the children there

This was Playground on the Sound. It was a Day Care for employees children. It really was very nice. I had my son there for a few years, as did many of my fellow employees. Prior to that I actually worked there when Geraldo Rivera blew the story up about Willowbrook and they transfered all the children to that building. It also at one time had a population of mentally retarded children. Funny-working there all those years, I didn't find it creepy at all.

while my parents worked for kings park psychiatric center---i was going to school here at the day care :) called "Playground on the sound" Go look it up if you dont believe me!!

My younger brother also went to Playground On the Sound. My parents used to say it was orginally the childrens ward.

Just looking again at the pics of this hospital. I wanted to add my 2 cents to the discussion about placing children in institutions. In the 50's and 60's this was the NORM. If your child had a problem that is what the Dr told parents to do. Most parents signed over custody of the child to the county/state. It was not thought of as bad, it was just the way things were done then.
When I was in nursing school, I happened to be doing my maternity rotation when an infant with the brain outside of the skull was born. The baby had no normal reflexes and the baby Dr said it was nonviable. There was a seperate nursery where the infant was placed. The infant was NOT fed or given an IV. If I remember correctly it only lived a couple of days. The year 1970 It still haunts me with the question: Could anything have been done for that child. I have often thought of this situation. It still has the power to upset me. I wish the resources that are available now were available then.