There is a popular playground in Monterey’s El Estero Park called Dennis the Menace Playground — named after the comic strip character.
The creator of Dennis the Menace, cartoonist Hank Ketchum was a local and lived in Pebble Beach, California until his death in 2001, at 81 years old.
More about this park on the graphic below from the Monterey city website…
Part of the park’s attraction is a real train steam engine, located at the playground entrance.
My grandchildren have always called this park the “choo choo train” park, and love to climb inside and play around the train steam engine.
We always kept a close eye on them, and when they were smaller, accompanied them up the steps and around the structure.
These days, this is what you will see if you visit the train steam engine…
…a fenced off area, and one disappointed little kid after another staring at the train.
The city’s explanation for the closure is below…
If they have never played inside of it, it probably does not matter, they are just curious. But if the kids are accustomed to playing inside (like my grandchildren), then they’ll be a bit brokenhearted after learning of the closure.
Despite the train steam engine area closure, there is a lot do in the wonderful playground, so it is still definitely worth a visit.
The playground is next to a lake (and an easy walk to the beach), and there are also paddle boats if you want to spend time on the lake itself. More information here.
The climbing structure next to the train is a good place for kids to expend energy and get exercise.
I spent many years in the insurance industry so I understand liability issues and the reason for fencing off the steam engine area…but that does not make it easier to explain when my grandchildren ask “why did they close it, Lola…why can’t we go inside… like before?”
Do you think we are overprotective of children in our modern society?
If you have children or grandchildren, would you allow them to play in this train steam engine, within the confines of a park playground?