Pain Stopped Play

A slightly contrived title, alluding to the total and unsurprising lack of human activity anywhere near this play area. Penk Rise, near Wolverhampton. A very pleasing area of grassland, mixed woodland bounded on two sides by houses, one side by a busy road and one side school playing fields. Dissected by the infant River Penk which rises a quarter of a mile away, hence the name. The original play area was rundown and misused, the local authority deemed it not fit for purpose and put in this new play area last year. I was struck by a number of things.. How new and unspoilt it was, no grafitti, needles or litter. Also my senses were tickled by the vivid colours and layout. It is brilliant and as a child why wouldn't you want to have a go! Finally, I was saddened by the fact that it cannot be used because of current lockdown restrictions. A lot of time and money spent on something that cannot be used. You could hear the silence...
Fingers crossed for a speedy return to happiness and freedom again. Carlos Santa had a point when he sang 'Let the children play....'