Surveys had shown that McDonaldland and its diverse characters were immensely popular with children, even though the commercials lasted only 30 and 60 seconds at a time.
It was with this in mind that McDonald's Corporation created the playground concept. The restaurant chain wanted to provide an enjoyable play area where the children could identify with their favorite characters from McDonaldland.
Since McDonaldland itself had been designed by Don Ament, a well-known designer of Hollywood sets and restaurants across the country and who just happened to be president of Setmakers, Inc., Setmakers was tasked with designing and producing a line of playground equipment that could be used to create these McDonaldland themed play areas envisioned by the corporation.
The 1972 Illinois State Fair in Springfield marked the national debut of McDonald Corporation's new "McDonaldland" playground equipment. McDonald's Corporation's participation in the Illinois State Fair was undertaken as a national test program. It was felt that the 10-day period would put the equipment through about three years of wear and tear. In addition, McDonald's wanted to see how the equipment would react to the heat. rain and wind that usually occurs during State Fair time.
Of course, the playground passed all tests and the first permanent McDonaldland playground opened in the fall of 1972 at a McDonalds outlet in Chula Vista, California. The Chula Vista playground was almost double the size of the Springfield playground! To promote this new concept of McDonaldland Playgrounds, Setmakers, Inc. produced both a catalog and a 12 minute 16mm video (seen below) featuring the Chula Vista park. Soon afterwards, McDonaldland playgrounds featuring the brightly-colored equipment offered by Setmakers, began springing up all over the country.
I really miss these play grounds but especially miss the characters, Grimace, Mayor McCheese, Hamburgler, Fry guys....but now even Ronald!! They got rid of Ronald!!!
ReplyDeleteI really wish they can bring the playground back at McDonald’s especially it’s perfect for the kids to run around and play well the adults there are supervising their kids, but sadly, I don’t know any that are still standing because I know when I was a kid I enjoyed going to McDonald’s looking forward to having a hamburger and fries in a Coca-Cola and playing in the playground. But Now this generation has changed a lot .now if I take my four-year-old son to McDonald’s, there is no place for him to play. That is very disappointing to me so he does not get to experience fun places like that. In less if I knew a place that still does that, but I’m not sure especially in California. How can I find any information on play grounds at McDonald’s in California or are they all taken out? That’s why I missed the all days. It’s not the same anymore as the good old days I really miss those playgrounds at McDonald’s restaurants in General.
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