Hi everyone, I'm 재파민,

a big fan of Nexon games!

A bit out of the blue, but how have you all been?

Sometimes, for no particular reason, I miss those childhood days

when I didn't have a care in the world. Am I getting old...?

​​

Just as that nostalgia was really kicking in,

I heard that Maple Leaf Playground had opened at Children's Grand Park.

​

Normally, I'd have just thought, “Oh, okay,” and left it at that,

but this time, something came over me. “Maybe I should check it out?”

So I headed over before my homebody instincts could talk me out of it.

​

Off to Children's Grand Park

Children's Grand Park is near Achasan Station.

It's easy to get to, so getting there was no trouble.

​

I think I went to Children's Grand Park once as a kid,

but it's so big that I caught myself thinking, “Was it always this huge...?”

If only my heart were that big, too.

​

Maple Leaf Playground is at number 39.

Walk straight ahead from the entrance and you'll see “Maple Leaf Playground” on a sign.

It was a straight walk the whole way, so I had no trouble finding it.

​

When I arrived at Maple Leaf Playground, MapleStory's mascots were there to greet me:

Rock Spirit, Pink Bean, and Orange Mushroom, all giving me a warm welcome.

​

They're a huge hit with the kids. So much so that I could barely get a photo in.

>

Then again, they're so cute, and just the right size to reach out and touch(?)

It'd be hard to just walk past them.

I waited my turn, snapped a few photos to remember the visit, then had a look around.

​

Orange Mushroom World

The playground is divided into 3 themed areas in total.

First up was Orange Mushroom World.

​

With a trampoline that sends you bouncing high into the air

and Orange Mushroom stepping stones small enough to make each step a challenge,

you can see whose physical skills come out on top.

​

I meant to take more photos,

but I got distracted by the trampoline—I loved those as a kid—

so I took this one photo and spent the rest of the time playing...

​I was pretty good on a trampoline back in the day, you know. Haha.

Rock Spirit World

The second area I checked out, Rock Spirit World,

has a big swing and a jungle gym.

​

Watching the kids all gathered together playing

somehow put me in a good mood.

Too bad I can't squeeze in there and join them anymore.

​​

Between the worlds, there's a Maple Leaf Rest Area.

Maybe it's the huge stretch of sand,

but this spot is really popular with the boys.

​

A mom was telling her child off for getting covered in sand,

while a dad laughed it off: “What's the big deal~ Hahaha!”

It was lovely to hear them. It really lifted my spirits.

​

Pink Bean World

At the MapleStory Maple Leaf Playground in Children's Grand Park,

my last stop was Pink Bean World.

The huge slide and play structure had drawn plenty of kids to this area.

The lovely weather made it an even better day to run around.

I spotted quite a few future tag champions. Reminded me of myself back in the day. Haha.

​

Best of all, there's a cute Pink Bean winking at the very top,

which made me feel pretty proud as a MapleStory player.

​

There's a lane for running and playing around the outside of the huge play structure.

It's laid with soft, cushioned blocks to help prevent serious injuries if anyone falls,

so you can run around with a little less worry.

​

There are sweet little minigames along the lane too, like collecting hearts,

so I think it'd be even more fun with your partner :)

Parents, why not give it a go and relive some old memories, too? Hehe.

There are actually 3 Maple Leaf Playgrounds in total, including the one I visited.

​Apparently, they're building these playgrounds using the MapleStory IP to support children's right to play.

It's such a genuinely lovely idea that I couldn't help feeling proud, too.

If I were a kid now, I'm sure I'd have even more fun at the playground. Too bad I can't show you how it's done.

​

Seeing the recent addition of a MapleStory theme to Lotte World,

I found myself thinking about how much it's expanding in all sorts of directions,

and how MapleStory is becoming part of my life. That made me happy.

I'll leave it there, with my fingers crossed for more good things to come. Keep it up!