Playgrounds for Grownups

You won't find swings or seesaws, but you will find lots of interesting and fun activities that stimulate both the body and the brain at new grownup playgrounds springing up in Nuremberg, Germany. Called Seniorenspielplatzen -- playgrounds for grownups --the new parks feature giant chessboards and padded badminton courts.

The city of Nuremberg got the idea from a Finnish study that showed playground activities helped older Finns improve balance, dexterity and speed. It's a new way of putting the old use it or lose it advice to work. As we age it's important to use our physical and mental "muscles" every day. Studies show that those who do enjoy greater mental acuity, stave off short-term memory loss, and maintain body flexibility and strength longer than their sedentary peers.

Oh, another thing you won't find on the new playgrounds -- children. The new parks are open only to seniors 60 years old and older!