On this special playground in Manchester, England, the elderly don't watch the kids play — they jump right in themselves. The area is said to be built after a German model, and contains equipment that is designed to provide gentle stimulation, rather than thrills, to aging bodies. You may not see a lot of swing sets; instead, the grounds include fixtures more akin to ski machines and thigh masters like you'd see in the gym. It's been a hit with local residents over 70, and the outdoor environment helps encourage both exercise as well as socializing.

The Manchester playground for the elderly cost nearly $30,000 to install, and was built next to a children's play area. Wait a minute — if grandma's on the leg machine and little Bobby on the roundabout, who's going to come rushing to help when one of them, or both of them, get a scraped up knee?

Daily Mail, via Gizmodiva