It was stainless steel, it looked like s a crooked countertop, and it was a challenge to climb to the top.
When the sun was hitting this supposed slide directly, it was a shiny hot surface that always left a mark. But it was not the most dangerous amusement on the Wheeling Park Playground back in the 1970s. The carousel was a “throw-off” thrill, the swings could fly as high as a kid made them glide, the climbing apparatuses claimed many teeth and chins, and the area’s surface was asphalt and not padded even the tiniest bit.
But it was a playground. In the 1970s. Most of them – throughout the city of Wheeling, anyway – came with an edge of danger because a thrill was allowed in the absence of liability law.
The Stifel Playground, though, is now a glorious area for all children no matter their wish for amusement. Constructed in 2024 and opened about a year ago, it is now known as the most inclusive play area in the state.
But the swings and slides were only a small part of each Day Camp day, and 50 years later, most of us only have one question to ask.
Did we ever stop during our Day Camp day?
I, for one, don’t remember many moments of idle time. After we gathered in our little groups with our counselor, off we went to come corner of Wheeling Park between the Mount Calvary Cemetery and the 9-hole golf course on the other side. There were activities like crafts and boating and climbing up to the top of the hill where the bandstand still is today … and getting up there was true-blue hiking for most single-digit kids.
We learned about the birds in the giant cage, heard stories about nasty monkeys, and the putt-putt course was really cool and unique. Some mornings, the “grown-ups” thought it would be a great idea to run us around the park by starting down the exit road, and up on the hillside above the highway to the entrance, and then back to the White Palace and down to Day Camp Headquarters at the Playground Shelter.
Now that is where we stopped. Caught our breath. Rested. And our Mom-made lunches were lined along the shelter’s shelves, and the milk was still cold after it was delivered from who-knows-where. Chipped ham sandwiches were popular along with a treat cake and a fruit, and once finished, we would grab our rolled-up bath towels that had our swimsuits in the middle.
We always prayed for warm, sunny days because, as long as it wasn’t thunderstorming, we were headed to the pool, the high dive, and to the best concession French fries in the whole world. If it did rain, campers were escorted to the covered slab of concrete where we ice-skated during the winter months.
We went home tired, that’s for sure, but that was the parental plan … and when we woke up, we couldn’t wait to do it all over again the very next day.
Happy 100th Birthday, Wheeling Park!
