Photo: Assemble

Cities turn to new forms of play

20 May 2014

by Richard Forster

A new adventure playground will open in a redeveloped area of east Glasgow, Scotland that aims to unlock children’s imagination, allowing them to use any raw materials to create and play.

Create London and Assemble art and architecture collective were commissioned by VELOCITY to create the playground, officially to be opened in June, on a former derelict site in an area of Glasgow that will form part of the Commonwealth Games in July.

The Baltic Street Adventure Playground takes its ethos from post-war European play spaces, when children would make the most with whatever they could find to play.

“In recent years, many children’s play spaces have become more restricted as health and safety is enforced and society becomes more risk averse,” Grace Williams, Producer at Create London, told Cities Today. “The project aims to follow the original ethos behind adventure play: child-built structures, ecologically sensitive materials, free play with minimal adult intervention and risk taking.”

A host of raw materials will be available including logs, rubber tubing, corrugated steel, bricks, straw as well as cupboards, matting and even a piano. Landscaping will include tunnels, hills and water features. Two full-time staffers who will supervise the space will check hazards.

“No parents have so far been reluctant because there is nothing else for the kids in the immediate area,” Robert Kennedy, one of the play workers said when asked of any hesitant parents. “It is an area of relative economic deprivation, with lots of single and working parents, so the playground is a welcome relief and an alternative to running wild or more polite pursuits.”

Across the Atlantic in the US, cities are also increasingly giving attention to its younger residents’ play spaces as a way of attracting, keeping and sustaining families.

KaBOOM!, a national body promoting children’s access to play, and Humana Foundation, have honoured 212 cities that have taken a lead on making their urban spaces more playable. Cities include Chicago–that has made it a goal for every child to be within a seven-minute walk of a new park or playground–and San Antonio that unlocks school properties, turning them into play spaces outside of school hours.

Austin is one city honoured for encouraging playability from an infrastructure, policy, programming, and community involvement perspective
Austin is one city honoured for encouraging playability from an infrastructure, policy, programming, and community involvement perspective

“In a study conducted by Insight Strategy group, we learned that kids want play everywhere,” Myeta Moon, Director of Advocacy at KaBOOM!, told Cities Today. “These play advocates hear that message and are taking action which means change beyond infrastructure. Our goal is to equip these cities with the support, network, expertise and tools they need to continue to drive momentum for playability in their cities.”

Although no direct financial support is provided, Moon did say that the LEGO Foundation are exploring ways to fund a play prize on a global scale, while KaBOOM! is seeking funding for a national prize.

“For cities to be economically sustainable and competitive, they need to not only attract residents but they need to retain them too,” added Moon. “As cities build more playful and kid-friendly environments, families and businesses will follow.”

 

 

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