A good illustration of our perception colored and shaped by personal experiences. It’s always a tainted glass, for every observer. However, the more we could look at it from diverse viewpoints, the more we get a complete, unbiased view.
Contrast – I think in Beijing, NYC and Shanghai, there are not so many kids playgrounds as in Singapore.
Contrast – I guess many landed properties in Singapore don’t have one within walking distance. Not a major concern to parents.
Contrast – At blk 177, we also had to bring baby boy to playgrounds across the road. Not too bad though grandma complained.
Battery Park is one of the nicest parks for family outing. Jersey City has a few nice parks for kids. Even the Newport downstairs playground feels safer and better maintained than the public playgrounds in run-down areas of NYC. It could be my personal bias.
More importantly, like a bank branch, a place of worship, a clean school, a hospital (not the one near Flushing Avenue!) lively playgrounds are a sign of street safety, public order and municipal control. See Broken-window theory.
Example: The small playground near Fort Hamilton Pkwy is old but lively, not littered or neglected. I think there are not many middle-class families but still safe and orderly.