PLAYLINK / Free Play Network
PLACES for PLAY Discussion Forum
Welcome to the PLAYLINK / Free Play Network discussion forum on what makes a place a good place for play. The Discussion Forum is now closed to new additions. You can read the closing remarks by Bernard Spiegal, Principal of PLAYLINK and contributions that were posted during the discussion forum are still available below.
Subjects for DiscussionBack to the top of the page Children choose play spaces
Isn't it true to say that places that children will choose to play in are not always designated areas but in their own imaginative places that they are interested in. Designated play spaces have their own purpose and many different designs and themes for these will be appropriate for the different area that they are in. Flexibility is key to a good play space. Natural play spaces are my preferred version in most instances although this could come in many guises - a field with trees and ditches are for some children the best play space they could be in.
Posted by: N Evans, Children and Young People's Participation Officer, Cambridge City Council, -1 June 2020, 2-:11 View Responses (2) |
Back to the top of the page Teenage Hangout Shelters
I am aware that a lot of councils are installing Teenage shelters into designed places for play.
Posted by: Phil Doyle, Play Development Manager , LB Tower Hamlets, -1 June 2020, 1-:29 View Responses (3) |
Back to the top of the page Where children play
- CORRECT -We should have environments in which we live, and children play, which are more imaginative and retain, incorporate natural features.
Posted by: Rob Wheway, Play Adviser, CAPT, -1 June 2020, 1-:30 View Responses (4) |
Back to the top of the page Back to the top of the page Home Zones/ Regeneration
The borough of Barking and Dagenham is currently under going a large regeneration programme. There is a number of sites in the borough that has land that is not in use as yet, and also areas that can be enhanced. This borough is like a construction site presently. As play is in the here and now, many of the children and young people would like to make use of the land and spaces available for play and also participate in large scale art projects. Which would be the best way forward so that these spaces and land can be utilised in the mean time.
Posted by: Marcia Gutzmore, Student, Play & Art in Motion, -1 June 2020, 1-:25 View Responses (1) |
Back to the top of the page Negligence, litigation, risk and play
The issue of actual and potential negligence claims has been raised a number of times. It is one of the key barriers inhibiting the development of good play places, whether in supervised or unsupervised provision, whether in designated play spaces of shared public space.
Posted by: Benard Spiegal, Principal, PLAYLINK, -1 June 2020, 1-:27 View Responses (1) |
Back to the top of the page GRANTS??????
Does anyone know about any grants that are available for Companies wishing to install a natural play area with an intention to be inclusive and suitable for educational visits? We are developing a huge area of land and the cost to date of getting us through the planning consent has been devastating. We have had to employ a Planning Consultant, a Traffic Consultant and use more of our architects time. We have struggled to come up with any grants that are available to the non charitable sector. We meet all the criteria then when they see we are a limited company it stops there. We have a long wish list, this includes some very expensive sensory equipment...absolutely fantastic bits..but we may have to put them on the second phase list.
Posted by: Janice Dunphy, DIRECTOR, CREEPY CRAWLIES, -1 June 2020, 1-:24 View Responses (1) |
Back to the top of the page Good on Paper But
I am enjoying reading all the comments but as a local authority playground manager with the responsibility of building new and refurbishing existing playa areas, I would like a lot of the ideas and have tried to introduce some of the things we know would encourage children to play. The big thing stopping me is the local ward members and senior officers who just look at a play area as a drain on a budget or a insurance liability. I have after 15 years managed to install a water feature in a play area but the battle was long and hard although the results have been successful I think it will take 2 or 3 years to get another water feature.
Posted by: Daryll Maguire, Playground Manager, Tameside MBC, -1 June 2020, 2-:11 View Responses (4) |
Back to the top of the page "Play Areas in Thamesdown"
I have just found this booklet in the London Play library, published about 15 years ago with lots of photos of brilliant play areas in Swindon. Peter Debbage wrote it, and explains how the landscape architects would first design a playful environment with changes of level, planting and facilities to encourage social play, and then see where the cimbing wall, ball play area, swings, roundabouts and slides would best fit in.
Posted by: Alan Sutton, Policy Officer, london play, -1 June 2020, 1-:29 View Responses (5) |
Back to the top of the page go wild in the country
I am hoping to create a place for play in our village. There is an old park which is functional but I want to create a different place for the children of the village. This place will be wild! I want to landscape the area with hills and slopes, put in boulders and plant trees.Put in some willow hiding places, a tree house and encourage the wild life! I have no money - just a dream. I have a piece of land I could use and will soon apply for a grant from the bbc breathing places. You never know what might happen if they say yes.
Posted by: emma grice, manager, denbury preschool, -1 June 2020, 1-:21 View Responses (2) |
Back to the top of the page Consultation
I want to pick up a point made by Phil Doyle under the 'why are play places so boring' heading. I want to propose that it is not uncommon for 'consultation' to lead to the creation of what we have called woeful places for play. Given this is the case, clearly consultation is, at best, a double-edged sword.
Posted by: Benard Spiegal, Principal, PLAYLINK, -1 June 2020, 1-:29 View Responses (5) |
Back to the top of the page How does free play influence
The Children’s Play Council defines children’s play as “…freely chosen, personally directed, intrinsically motivated behavior that actively engages the child”- This statement is one of the key statutes which support the notion of “free play” and identify its provision as best practice for playworkers.
Posted by: David Thompson, Playwork Student (BA Hons), Leeds Metropolitan University, -1 June 2020, 1-:27 View Responses (5) |
Back to the top of the page HELP
my new job in a large 3 form entry primary school is great, however we have one major problem - the outdoor space available for play. two of the reception classes have access to a small tarmac area which is fenced but not secure. we dearly want to make greater use of the outdoor environment but do not have the resources or the funds to make a real impact. I would appreciate advice on where best to try to get funding and also how best to invest any funds. thanks!
Posted by: Sue, early years teacher, primary school, -1 June 2020, 2-:04 View Responses (4) |
Back to the top of the page Adult Provisions
Coming from an Adventure Playground background I am often amused at the way planners spend fortunes on fixed play equipment and stick it in an area totally lacking in provision for adults. I can't remember the report, but some years ago it was discovered that parents visiting park playgrounds were unlikely to spend more than five minutes there supervising their offspring.
Posted by: Ted Keen , Play Resource Manager , Sheffield City Council , -1 June 2020, 1-:24 View Responses (2) |
Back to the top of the page DDA Requirements
We have a large adventure playground at Harewood House, with a great variety of play equipment providing facilities for toddlers up age 14. However, we are getting demands from one visitor, stating that we are obliged to provide a facility for her wheel-chair bound child and threats that she will involve the local press if this is not resolved.
Posted by: Elaine Speight, Head of Visitor Services, Harewood House, -1 June 2020, 1-:27 View Responses (5) |
Back to the top of the page Everything we say will be taken down and used in evidence
Our organisation is voluntary sector and provides indoor and outdoor recreation facilities to young children mainly 0-5 but also older ones during the school holidays. Last year we had a staggering 27,000 visits but I am STILL asked to prove to our funders that we are providing enough "outcomes" (I'd be a millionaire by now if I had a fiver for every time I saw that word).
Posted by: Nigel Scott-Dickeson, Project Manager, Springboard Project, -1 June 2020, 1-:13 View Responses (1) |
Back to the top of the page Open spaces and the DDA
I am currently working with the head of play spaces to look at a move away from the 'traditional fenced in' areas your exhibition highlights as woeful. I am however wondering what the impact on these areas is in light of the Disibility Discrimination Act especially with regard to access? Any thoughts anyone?
Posted by: Ady Chaplin, Community safety officer - youth, BCKLWN, -1 June 2020, 1-:24 View Responses (2) |
Back to the top of the page Play as an attraction
I am hoping to establish a major play facility within an existing country park. Does anyone have any figures on the no of visitors a play facility is capable of attracting. I could really do with a few examples where the investment in play has resulted in attracting increased visitor numbers, increased length of stay and encouraged a broader cross section of visitors to parks.
Posted by: Tim Dixon, Head of Country Parks, Essex County Council, -1 June 2020, 1-:17 View Responses (8) |
Back to the top of the page Have some of the photographers actuall accompanied young children to a place for play?
After viewing the exhibition of photo's and comments it did make me question if infact many of the critics had in fact ever taken a group of young children to a play area. I am a mother of two preschool children who both love going to our local park which would most probably be classified in your WOE section. The ideals of no fencing, no age segregation and streams running through sound lovely in theory but in reality would be a nightmare when taking my children and their cousins alone as I often do. The softer surfacing may well be costly but gives me the peace of mind to allow my children the freedom to explore and climb as they feel confident to do so. I am all for more money and planning being invested in play for children but I would hope people with appropriate experience would be consulted.
Posted by: Jenni Boyd, Primary teacher, Bolton , -1 June 2020, 2-:19 View Responses (6) |
Back to the top of the page Back to the top of the page Back to the top of the page Back to the top of the page Why Are Our Play Spaces Boring?
After looking at the photographs in the places of woe, the 'standard' play space in this country doesn't look that exciting. However, I do believe that it's because Local Authorities have got themselves in a rut. We try to put in play spaces that will stand up to the vandalism that we know will occur, but in doing so, put in boring ones that attract vandalism.
Posted by: Peter Cunningham, Development Officer (Play), Rotherham MBC, -1 June 2020, 1-:27 View Responses (7) |
Back to the top of the page Who chooses?
In recent years many local authority officers have changed the way they work. Instead of choosing pieces of play equipment to be installed in a setting chosen by the authority the playground industry is being asked to create "turnkey" packages including surfacing, fencing gates and pieces of equipment.
Posted by: Robert Goss, MD, KOMPAN Ltd, -1 June 2020, 1-:21 View Responses (9) |
Back to the top of the page policy
Do Playlink have a checklist for Play policy aligned to the strategy,stakeholder checklist found in the Planning for play guidance to assist in creating Our draft play policy for the Play forum to be able to comment on to inform the strategy. I am concerned that I will forget any crucial factors in the lead policy for the strategy.I would welcome a response today as I am trying to write up before a meeting called tomorrow.
Posted by: sara younger, Cuktural Services Officer-Play, Hertsmere Borough Council, -1 June 2020, 2-:19 View Responses (1) |
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