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Shell shocked no more: Kid-scorching metal turtle to be moved to shadier spot in Beacon Hill playground

Tarped turtle statue

Not a crime scene: Turtle covered in tarp with sign warning literate toddlers to stay off. Source.

The Boston Guardian reports that parents worried about their little kids getting burned by climbing up on that solar-heated Myrtle the Turtle statue they never asked for in the center of the Myrtle Street playground for have reached a compromise with the city Parks Department:

The statue, which the Beacon Hill Garden Club sternly refused to move off Myrtle Street because what's the point of a turtle named Myrtle if not on the eponymous street, will be moved to a section of the playground that already is shaded by trees - rather than covered by some sort of shelter that would take up even more room in the small playground. Garden Club honchos said they agreed to the move only after sculptor Nancy Schon - yes, of Make Way for Ducklings statue fame - agreed to the move, which she did.

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Comments

The funny thing is that there is a 35 foot tall locust tree 10 feet from the turtle (in its current position). Just isn't a good shade tree.

There are 5 shots on Google Street view over the years. You can see that the turtle was put in the sunniest part of the playground. Two of the shots appear to be near noon time.

https://goo.gl/maps/9EfmfHVSWWDUtbRWA

Bing only has one shot and I am guessing it is a hour or two before noon.

https://binged.it/30DscfL

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if safety were considered. Appearance and not upsetting the honchos seems to matter more in this playground.

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I hope a sun study was done for the new location since the sculpture will still, incomprehensibly, be in the toddler playground.

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It is baffling why the sculpture is being relocated within the playground when the city acknowledges that it isn’t a playground structure. It’s an unnecessary risk to kids who break the rules and enter the forbidden garden area, and it provides no benefit to them. They won’t even be able to see it from the play area if it’s surrounded by shrubs.

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Is such a dot rat.

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But I suppose it's Art.

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Right now it's just a terrapin in a tarpaulin.

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Let's put up a graven turtle in the middle of a plaza where it will burn children who touch it, right in the fancy old neighborhood built by rich merchants who profited off of the Triangle Trade and were probably in secret societies that worshiped turtles and/or sun gods. That's not suspicious at all.

Just sayin!

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See the Turtle of enormous girth. On his shell he holds the earth. His thought is slow but always kind; he holds us all within his mind .On his back all vows are made; he sees the truth but mayn't aid. He loves the land and loves the sea, And even loves a child like me."

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Gamera! Gamera!
Gamera is really neat!
Gamera is filled with meat!
We've been eating Gamera!
Shell!
Teeth!
Eyes!
Flames!
Claws!
Breath!
Scales!
Fun!!

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We do not speak of what lies deep in the interior of that bronze casting, not even in a whisper among friends.

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Know what’s safe for children in playgrounds.

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Are the parents more worried about them getting burned or melting?

/s

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I'm more worried about the tarpaulin melting into the surface of the bronze turtle.

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.. quite morbid.

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Curious choice for playground decision-makers.

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Will probably not be liable when a child is injured.

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Disappointing that the city is letting these people dictate what can’t come out of the playground.

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What does it cost to keep the non-playground sculpture in the playground to appease a select few?

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