With the long, hot days of summer lazily drifting by children are faced with a choice: whether to stay indoors and watch television or go outside into the fresh air and sunshine.

One thing which may inspire kids to take the latter course is the fact that so many parks and playgrounds are dotted around the Island.

Not including sites in schools, there are seven public playgrounds in Bermuda located in various parts of the country -- from Clearwater to Dockyard, from Shelly Bay to Warwick Long Bay.

And these indisputably appreciated places have only come into existence or been extensively refurbished within the last few years.

The opening of the playground at Shelly Bay Park in 1993 marked the beginning of a time when companies and institutions chose to pump thousands of dollars into the development of several similar projects.

Children, from infants to younger teenagers, have been able to enjoy parks provided by Government and organisations such as the West End Development Corporation and the Bermuda Land Development Corporation, all of which have sought to provide residential areas with safe plots of land and equipment exclusively for kids.

The latest of Bermuda's playgrounds is to be found at Parson's Road, an area in desperate need of safe parkland.

And ever since its opening last December, the park has been appreciated by people from not just the local vicinity but from further afield.

Mother-of-one, Stephanie Comber-Proctor, said that the playground at Parson's Road was one of her eighteen month old daughter Sophie's favourite places to go and play.

Her admiration for Bermuda's playgrounds was based on the fact that "the kids love them''.

She said: "I think they're a great idea. Before we had them younger kids didn't really have anywhere safe to go and play.'' But Mrs. Comber-Proctor did say Bermuda's playgrounds could be made even better.

"Some of the equipment -- especially at the Clearwater site -- is so old that it's dangerous,'' she said.

"The playgrounds could also do with some more baby swings.'' But Park planner Anne Boykin-Smith said while there has been a multitude of suggestions and minor complaints about the Island's playgrounds, the majority of feedback from the public has been very positive.

"Once we opened up the playground at Shelly Bay a number of residents wrote in requesting a playground in every parish,'' she said.

"They really seem to help bring communities together.'' When asked if there had been acts of vandalism to the equiment, Ms. Boykin-Smith said; "While there have been a few minor incidents such as some graffiti and one piece of equipment in particular being stolen, there has never been anything major.'' The park planners did appeal to the Island's various communities to "take ownership and responsibility for their playgrounds'', a view shared by Mrs.

Comber-Proctor.

"Bermuda's playground's are one of the best things that have been introduced to the Island in the last few years -- it would be a shame to see their development hindered,'' she said.

In the swing: Sophie Comber-Proctor and friend, Sarah Massey, (above) both 18-months, check out the swings at Warwick Long Bay Park. (Below) Government unveiled new plans for a long-awaited park at Parson Road in Hamilton.