Enabling play friendly places

Creating “play friendly places” can be an effective way to counteract some of the deterrents to active outdoor play

This design guide, published by the Australian Institute of Architects, is a synthesis of design research on how to improve the playability of outdoor spaces and improve nature access for children. While a number of design strategies are introduced, the paper, itself, is not intended to be a design manual with specific steps for creating outdoor play spaces. The intent is to address the concept of “playability” and stimulate thinking on how to make outdoor spaces more “play friendly” places for children. The target audience is not practitioners who specialize in the creation of designated play spaces for children, but a wider audience of designers, policy makers, and others who influence the qualities of the public realm. The goal is to stimulate thinking on how more settings in an urban environment can provide creative play opportunities for children.

The guide is divided into four major sections. Part I presents a discussion of the importance of outdoor play and how the design of outdoor spaces (including streets, squares and private open spaces) represent potential settings for active play. Also included in this section is a discussion about playability and how different outdoor spaces might be designed to enhance play.

Part II provides information about the meaning of play and its significance for children and communities. Part III explores how built environments influence children’s play in terms of type and amount of play. The final section (Part IV) presents ideas on what architects, planners and built environment professionals can do to contribute to creating ‘play friendly’ places with cues for children and their parents or guardians as to the possibilities of play.

The development of this guide was motivated, in part, by the recent rise in indoor, screen-based play at the expense of other forms of play, especially outdoor active play. The result has been reduced levels of activity on the part of children and an increase in adverse health outcomes associated with inactivity. In addition to the appeal of indoor screen time, other deterrents to active outdoor play identified in this paper include perceptions of risk, diminished independent mobility, social priorities, specific rules, and physical barriers. The creation of “welcoming play spaces” or “play friendly places” within the urban environment is offered as an effective way to counteract some of these deterrents.

Play friendly places provide a wide variety of play opportunities. A few of the strategies offered for enhancing playability include (a) providing cues that stimulate children’s imagination, (b) stimulating the senses, (c) providing opportunities to explore interests and abilities, (d) providing respite and comfort for children and their caregivers, and (e) providing access to nature. The final section of this paper includes some ideas on how the process of creating play friendly environments can promote social connections and contribute to the wellbeing of children and the larger society.