MID CENTURY MODERN PLAYGROUND SCULPTURES is an ongoing photo series capturing the disappearing playscapes that were once ubiquitous throughout metropolitan Detroit and beyond - primarily focused on the works of Jim Miller-Melberg and the cast-concrete sculptures of his company, Form Incorporated. From concrete turtles, porpoises, and camels, to swiss-cheese looking castles, walls, saddles, and "moonhouses," Miller-Melberg's playscapes were commonplace at Detroit parks, schools, and suburban apartment complexes. Along with the works of JMM, various other adventure play sculptures designed by David Aaron, Paul Friedberg, Game-Time Inc., and the Playground Corporation of America still dot the Detroit landscape, but, like most cast conrete or metal based playscapes, they've quickly vanishing in favor of mass-produced, modular plastic equipment. Photographed over the last 10 years, many of the JMM sculptures have been removed and destroyed, and virtually no metal sculptures still exist. All works are Jim Miller-Melberg unless otherwise noted.

JMM Camel

JMM Moonhouse

JMM Porpoise, Sculpture Benches, and Contour Benches

JMM Tree Form

JMM Porpoise, Sculpture Benches, and Contour Benches

JMM Game Tables

JMM Porpoise, Saddle Slide, and Contour Benches

JMM Porpoise, Turtle, Tree Form, and Contour Benches

JMM Porpoise, Saddle Slide, Tree Form, and Contour Benches

JMM Turtle

JMM Saddle Slide

JMM Castle

JMM Turtle

JMM Castle

JMM Play Wall

JMM Porpoise

JMM Saddle Slide and Castle

JMM Castle

JMM Castle and Porpoise

JMM Turtle

JMM Saddle Slide and Tree Form

JMM Turtle

JMM Tree Form

JMM Saddle Slide

JMM Porpoise

Concrete Whale (unknown artist)

Concrete Whale (unknown artist)

JMM Saddle Slide

JMM Turtle

JMM Camels

JMM Porpoise

JMM Camels

JMM Camels

JMM Porpoise, Sculpture Benches, and Contour Benches

Concret Climber (unknown artist)

JMM Turtle, Saddle Slide and Play Arcs

JMM Turtle

JMM Turtle, Saddle Slide and Play Arcs

David Aaron "Magical Forest" Trees

David Aaron "Magical Forest" Trees

JMM Turtle

JMM Porpoise

JMM Play Arc and Porpoise

JMM Turtle

JMM Saddle Slide and Play Wall

JMM Castle

JMM Turtle

JMM Porpoise

JMM Turtle and Tree Form

JMM Porpoise and Tree Form

Game-Time Wizard of Oz Swings

Game-Time Wizard of Oz Swings

JMM Tree Form

Playground Corp. of America Eagle's Nest and Oz Swings

JMM Porpoise

JMM Turtle

JMM Play Arcs

JMM Porpoise

JMM Saddle Slide and Tree Form

JMM Hansen Basketball Standard

JMM Hansen Basketball Standard

Concrete Climber (unknown artist)

JMM Porpoise

JMM Porpoise, Tree Form, and Turtle

(Playground Corp. of America Spider)

Concrete Forms (unknown artist)

JMM Porpoise and Tree Form

Playground Corp. of America Truck

Playground Corp. of America Spider

Concrete Horse (unknown artist)

Concrete Horse (unknown artist)

JMM Play Arcs II, Saddle Slide, Tree Form, Turtle, and Contour Benches

JMM Turtle, Saddle Slide, Tree Form, Play Arcs II, and Contour Benches

JMM Turtle, Tree Form, Saddle Slide, Play Arcs II, and Contour Bench

Richard Dattner Adventure Playground

Richard Dattner Adventure Playground

Richard Dattner Adventure Playground

JMM Porpoise and Saddle Slide

Playground Corp. of America Eagle's Nests

JMM Turtle, Saddle Slide, Castle, and Contour Bench

JMM Turtle, Saddle Slide, Castle, and Contour Bench

David Aaron Space Station and Playscape

David Aaron Space Station and Playscape

JMM Moonhouse

JMM Play Wall and Turtle

JMM Turtle (headless)

JMM Turtle

JMM Game Table

JMM Porpoise

JMM Saddle Slide

JMM Tree Form

JMM Saddle Slide

JMM Turtle

JMM Porpoise

Playground Corp. of America Ladders

Playground Corp. of America Eagel's Perch

JMM Turtle

JMM Turtle

JMM Tree Form, Play Arc, and Contour Bench

JMM Tree Form, Play Arc, and Contour Bench

JMM Porpoise

(Game-Time Buck-A-Bouts)

(Game-Time Buck-A-Bouts)

JMM Tree Form

JMM Play Arc and Turtle

JMM Turtle

JMM Porpoise

JMM New Benches

JMM Turtle

JMM Saddle Slide

JMM Tree Form

JMM Porpoise

JMM Porpoise

JMM Turtle

JMM Tree Form

JMM Porpoise

JMM Sculpture Bench

JMM New Bench

JMM Tree Forms

JMM Game Table

JMM New Bench

JMM Tree Forms and Game Tables

Playground Corp. of America Wonderous Worm and Eagel's Perch

JMM Turtle

JMM Porpoise

JMM Turtle

David Aaron Shell-Ter and Playscape

David Aaron Shell-Ter and Playscape

Playground Corp. of America Superbug

Playground Corp. of America Car

JMM Play Wall

JMM Castle and Play Wall

JMM Play Walls

JMM Play Walls

JMM Play Walls

JMM Tree Form

JMM Tree Form

JMM Play Walls

JMM Game Tables

(Game-Time Buck-A-Bouts)

Playground Corp. of America Eagel's Perch

JMM Tree Form

JMM Saddle Slide

JMM Castle and Saddle Slide

JMM Saddle Slide

JMM Turtle

JMM Play Arc

JMM Saddle Slide (broken)

JMM New Bench

JMM New Bench

Playground Corp. of America Wicked Witch

Playground Corp. of America Wicked Witch

Playground Corp. of America Snail

(Game-Time Buck-A-Bouts)

(Game-Time Buck-A-Bouts)

(Playground Corp. of America Rocket)

(Playground Corp. of America Rocket)

(Playground Corp. of America Jungle Gym)

(unknown artist)

JMM Porpoise

JMM Turtle

JMM Form Inc. Catalog

JMM Form Inc. Catalog

JMM Form Inc. Catalog

JMM Form Inc. Catalog

JMM Form Inc. Catalog

JMM Form Inc. Catalog

JMM Form Inc. Catalog

JMM Form Inc. Catalog

JMM Form Inc. Catalog

Playground Corp. of America Catalog

Playground Corp. of America Catalog

Playground Corp. of America Catalog

Playground Corp. of America Catalog

Playground Corp. of America Catalog

Playground Corp. of America Catalog

Playground Corp. of America Catalog

Playground Corp. of America in Popular Mechanics Article

Game-Time Catalog

Game-Time Catalog

Game-Time Catalog

Game-Time Catalog

Game-Time Catalog

Game-Time Catalog

Game-Time Catalog

Game-Time Catalog

Game-Time Catalog

Game-Time Catalog