Hello to everyone who loves Nexon games,

Jaepamin here!

This is kind of random, but how’s everyone doing?

Sometimes I really miss those childhood days

when I somehow had absolutely nothing to worry about. Guess I really am getting older..

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Right around the time those feelings were hitting even harder,

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

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Normally, that would’ve just been a quick “oh, neat” kind of update,

but this time, like I was under some strange spell, I found myself thinking, “Should I go check it out?”

So before the homebody in me could change its mind, I rushed out and went.

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Heading to Children's Grand Park

Children's Grand Park is near Achasan Station.

It’s easy to get to, so I made it there without any hassle.

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I think I came to Children's Grand Park once when I was little,

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

I wish my own capacity were this big too.

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The Maple Leaf Playground is located at No. 39.

If you just keep walking straight from the entrance, you’ll spot a sign for “Maple Leaf Playground”.

It was easy to find since all I had to do was keep going straight.

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When I got to the Maple Leaf Playground, I was welcomed by MapleStory’s mascots,

Rock Spirit, Pink Bean, and Orange Mushroom.

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They were a huge hit with the kids. It was hard to even get a moment to take pictures.

I mean, they’re that cute, and they’re made in exactly the kind of size that makes you want to reach out and touch them(?)

No way anyone could just walk past without stopping.

I waited my turn, took a few commemorative photos, and then had a look around.

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Orange Mushroom World

The playground is split into three themed areas.

The first one to greet me was Orange Mushroom World.

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There’s a trampoline that sends you bouncing up high when you jump,

plus Orange Mushroom stepping stones made just tricky enough to keep things exciting,

so you can really put your physical skills to the test here.

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I was planning to take a lot more pictures,

but I got completely distracted by the trampoline I used to love as a kid,

so I snapped this one shot and then just kept playing instead..

​I was actually pretty good on a trampoline back in the day. Haha

Rock Spirit World

The second area I enjoyed was Rock Spirit World,

which has a huge swing and a jungle gym.

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Watching all the kids gathered together and playing

just made me feel good for some reason.

At the same time, I did feel a little sad that I can’t squeeze in there and play anymore.

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

Maybe it’s because there’s a huge sandbox spread out there,

but it’s especially popular with boys.

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Hearing a mother scold her child for getting covered in sand,

while the father just laughed it off with a “What’s the big deal~ hahaha,”

was strangely nice. It felt genuinely healing.

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Pink Bean World

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

the last area to welcome me was Pink Bean World.

With its giant slide and big play area, lots of kids were hanging out here.

The weather was nice too, which made it an even better day for running around.

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

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More than anything, there was a cute Pink Bean winking from the very top,

and as a MapleStory player, that made me feel pretty proud.

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Around the outside of the giant playground, there’s a lane where you can run around.

Even if someone happens to fall, the ground is lined with soft blocks to help prevent any serious bumps,

so it’s a space where you can play without worrying too much.

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There’s even a sweet little mini-game in the middle of the lane, kind of like a heart-collecting game,

so I think it’d be even more fun if you came with your partner :)

And for parents too, why not give it a try and relive some old memories? Hehe

Actually, including this one, there are three Maple Leaf Playgrounds in total.

​They say these playgrounds are being built using the Maple IP to help promote children’s right to play,

and the idea behind that is so pure and lovely that it made me feel proud too.

If I were still a kid, I’m sure I could’ve had even more fun there, so it’s a little sad I couldn’t prove it.

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Seeing that a Maple theme was added to Lotte World this time,

I was happy thinking about how much it’s expanding in all kinds of ways, and at the same time

Maple feels like it’s becoming part of my life, which made me really happy.

With that, I’ll wrap things up here. Hoping there’s even more good news ahead. Fighting!