The days are long gone when a swing set would be bolted to the bare asphalt of a schoolyard. Even a grassy playground with bare spots directly under the swings, scraped by endless pairs of shoes is a rarity. Now, softer, safer materials cushion any falls. This tweedy patchwork may be created from recycled plastic bottles. On a chilly day I was alone, contemplating the abstract pattern thrown by the shadows, wondering how earlier generations managed to survive the playgrounds of our youth.