"John W." wrote:

> I do find Japanese
> playgrounds to be somewhat eerie in that usually children are absent.
> But, then, the same can said for some parks near my home in Nashville.

Depends if the playground has things to keep people's interest. While house hunting I have seen
developments with their own playgrounds or parks, but I don't see people there, because they
almost all suck. A slide and swings maybe, and no grass. Or maybe grass and nothing else. Dumb. I
might have a barbecue or set up a tent in such a place, but I wouldn't play there if there were
someplace better.