Childhood just got a little safer in Macomb.

Welders took apart sections of the red rocket, a Glenwood Park playground icon Wednesday.

The Park District did a safety check of all parks and found the Rocket slide at Glenwood Park was a huge safety hazard.

The slide structure was built in the late '50s or early '60s.

No one has gotten seriously hurt on this Rocket, but the slide could have been very dangerous.

Rocket slides like this once were found all around the country. Now, park districts have discomissioned almost all of them-- as is the case with this one in Macomb. In the report the district completed, there were 12 priority one hazard citations.

"There seems to be some misperception that we're talking about bumps, bruises and scrapes, those normal childhood things that happen, but we're not. We're talking about things that can kill. And that's not something that you horse around with and take lightly," said Executive Director Ray Peterson.

Some of those hazards are entanglements that could catch clothing, and entrapments where a body could pass though, but a child's head could get stuck. So, the Park District had to take action.

"Once this was all established and on paper it was clear that there were major problems associated with it. Contact had been made with the manufacturer about if anything can be done to make modifications to it... The answer was no," said Peterson.

The entrance to the slide now is covered up by a huge sheet of metal so people can't get in. There also are bars where the slide used to sit.

"Our intent is to keep the rocket in place. There's a young man from Macomb who has a metal business and he's going to be in town this weekend. He wants to stop by and look at it, make some recommendations on how we can artistically finish this out and make it appropriate and essentially a part of the park," said Peterson.

Macomb Park District Executive Director Ray Peterson hopes to make the Rocket a permanent piece of artwork in the park.

The report also showed one wooden playground was starting to decompose.

That playground was taken down.

There have been efforts to save the Glenwood park rocket ... see this Facebook page where local residents sought to keep it in action.  Teresa M. said on this page, "I have lots of "GOOD" memorys involving this slide!  I hope they decide to save it!"

In the meantime, we want to hear from you ... do you have fond memories of playing on equipment that was probably hugely dangerous?  Do you think today's safety standards might be too restrictive?  Share your comments below or click here to share them on our Facebook page.  We may even use your comments in our newscast, so make sure you watch KHQA's News at Five, KHQA's Evening News at 6 p.m. and KHQA's Late News at 10 p.m.