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Regenerating Play

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Regenerating Play

A joint project with North Fulham New Deal (NDC) for Communities, funded by Awards for All.

The Problem

As part of our research we visited parks and play areas all over the North Fulham NDC area.

Whilst much funding has been invested in new play equipment in some areas, little thought had been given to design, location or to what children and young people would be able to do in the places provided.

This playground is typical of many newly commissioned playgrounds. Although the site is located near to homes and could have been designed to provide a vital breathing space for all of the community, it is dull and leaves little to the imagination.

Some 30% - 50% of a conventional playground's budget is spent on safety surfacing and fencing. There are few if any grounds for believing that this percentage of overall spend represents best value.

"It is... urgent to prevent further public expenditure on facilities that children, given the choice do not use." Sandra Melville, PLACES for PLAY

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