Play is the only way
Play is essential to a child’s physical
and mental well-being; it supports
development, crucial for a child as they
transition through the key stages of life.
Our local parks provide the ideal
environment to facilitate this. They offer
an outdoor safe environment to play
for children and families particularly
important where apartment living for
many offers no outdoor space to play at
home.
Having open spaces is essential for
children to run, explore, climb trees, ride
bikes and let off steam with their friends,
however not all children are afforded the
independence to play in this environment.
‘Helicopter parenting’ is an emerging
phenomenon, the outcome being that
children are not given the independence
and freedom of play that previous
generations of children enjoyed.
This means that there is even greater
pressure for play spaces to deliver a
valuable and high quality experience
for all children. How? Through clearly
identifiable play spaces within parks.
62 Landscape & Urban Design
Traditional fixed play equipment within
these spaces provides a haven for children
to play alongside their parents and
family. Children will experience moving
sensations, such as rocking, spinning,
sliding and will be able to assess risk
and challenge whilst experiencing pure
exhilaration through play.
Open natural landscape alongside quality
play provision is crucial and highlights the
importance of play to children in a society
where inactivity and obesity levels are
rising and threatening children’s health
and wellbeing. The API (Association of
Play Industries) has undertaken research
which has uncovered during 2014-15
that 112 playgrounds have been closed
and in 2015-16 a further 102 were shut
down. The reason cited for this was 92%
of local authorities reported a budget
reduction over the last 3 years effecting
these closures.
Therefore, we are fully supporting the
#Nowhere2play campaign from the API
which is lobbying for Government funding
to arrest future closures and protect
the accessible places to play that are so
important for the health and well-being of
children and families.
www.proludic.co.uk