Go directly to (kid) jail

Some things just don’t mix, like oil and water.

Or kids’ playgrounds and fake jails.

Incredibly, however, that’s exactly what was going on in New York City, of all places -- by a public housing project, of all places again.

The other day a mom noticed the fake jail and complained. The Housing Authority bureaucrats, ever responsive, promptly fixed the problem.

They removed the word “jail” and took out the fake bars.

Good. We hope no toddlers were traumatized.

But it does seem odd, almost suggesting that kids were gonna end up in the clink at some time in their lives.

However, here’s the really interesting part about the whole story:

The playground was installed ... way back in 2004.

For six long years, nobody complained about the fake jail – or maybe even noticed it. The city even found a second fake jail at another playground.

That’s a minor miracle in a society where taking offense has been raised to an art form.

It also should rule out any lawsuits for emotional distress. (Darn the luck!)

As for the kids, they’ll probably go back to doing what kids have done for generations: Playing for the sheer joy of playing.

Heck, when the grownups aren’t looking, they might even sneak in a game of cops and robbers.

Shhhh.