Workers from the Empresa de Recuperación de Materias Primas (ERMP) in Guantánamo have found a creative solution to the disappearance of children's playgrounds in Cuba due to the current economic crisis: constructing playground equipment from old recycled tires.
These industrious employees transform completely unusable tires into tractors, engines, and labyrinthine tunnels, among other implements, as proudly displayed by the state-run Canal Caribe in a video posted on Facebook. These components are then assembled into modules that are used to create beautiful and welcoming playgrounds.
The official broadcaster highlighted that, in addition to giving new life to old tires and turning them into toys, using recycled tires also provides an environmental benefit: reducing pollution. "Their decomposition (the tires') would take a century, and once buried, they prevent the proliferation of mosquitoes," noted Canal Caribe, suggesting that the innovation is also highly eco-friendly.
Each module comprises eight to twelve implements, which "enrich children's imagination," allowing them to "become drivers, soar into the sky, or get tangled up as they exit a labyrinth tunnel," according to the television report.
Expanding Playground Projects
An ERMP source revealed that they are currently working on the production of seven playground modules, with the first one already completed and set to be installed in the community of Los Llanos, in the Maisí municipality of Guantánamo. "We are working on three more modules to be installed in the same municipality," the source added.
Additionally, another playground is scheduled to be set up at the Motel de la Escuela Provincial del Partido before the end of May.
As ERMP workers in Guantánamo continue to manufacture playground modules from recycled tires, the older playgrounds remain neglected and abandoned due to scarcity and economic crisis. Recent images of the iconic Parque Lenin in Havana depict government neglect and a lack of recreational options for children in Cuba.
In a video posted by Cubanet, the park's attractions appear stalled, rusted, and overgrown with weeds, reminiscent of a horror movie scene.
The recent appearance of strange coffins in a children's park in Havana caused a stir on social media, where Cubans speculated whether it was a terrifying prank and demanded explanations. Facebook user Beatriz Alonso expressed her concern over the new items at the recreational facility and called on the Marianao government to explain "what these half-buried coffins in the Children's Park at 100 and 35 mean."
She also noted that all the cartoon characters that were painted on the walls, including Elpidio Valdés and other iconic Cuban figures, had been removed from the site.
FAQs About Recycled Tire Playgrounds in Cuba
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the initiative to build playgrounds using recycled tires in Cuba, highlighting the project's benefits and challenges.
How are recycled tires being used in Cuban playgrounds?
Recycled tires are being transformed into various playground equipment, such as tractors, engines, and labyrinthine tunnels, which are then assembled into modules to create new playgrounds.
What are the environmental benefits of using recycled tires?
Using recycled tires helps reduce pollution since they take a century to decompose. Additionally, once buried, they prevent the proliferation of mosquitoes.
Where are the new playground modules being installed?
The new playground modules are being installed in the community of Los Llanos in Maisí municipality, Guantánamo, with plans for additional installations in the same area and at the Motel de la Escuela Provincial del Partido.