Playground in a Cage

This former mental hospital consists of dozens of buildings on a sprawling campus in New England. Most of the buildings have been closed since the mid-90's; some of them are in the process of getting renovated for reuse.

One building of particular interest is an old ward for the criminally insane.  Its contours are severe, its windows covered by heavy bars. Yet one of its doors leads to a playground: the skeleton of the swing still sits forlornly behind a wire fence.

The interiors of the ward have been sanitized. Despite ample signs warning of biohazards and contagious diseases, the walls are now sparkling with polished tiles and coats of fresh paint.

Unlike most other abandoned hospitals, this one seems as if it closed mere days ago. When all else is gone, there remains a gleaming crispness, a last reminder not to infect oneself.