play pathfinders: bidders’ slide pack. introduction overview –these slides provide further...

Play Pathfinders: bidders’ slide pack

Introduction

• Overview – These slides provide further information to help authorities prepare their Pathfinder bids. They use examples of adventure playgrounds/playparks and play

areas to contextualise the bid criteria of– access/inclusivity, – safety and – creativity which were in Annex B of the letter of 25 February. The slides also offer thoughts on community engagement and partnership working, which will

be key to making this investment a success

• Adventure playgrounds/playparks– access/inclusivity – safety– creativity– An adventure playpark case study

• Play areas– access/inclusivity – safety– creativity

• Community engagement and partnership working

Adventure playgrounds/playparks

The Adventure playground: overview

• fully staffed by qualified playworkers • offer indoor and outdoor space dedicated to free play • outdoor play area is designed with local children's participation • outdoor play area offers a full range of playable spaces: which can include big

wooden structures; quiet, 'chill-out areas'; wild nature areas; planted areas; water and sand play; informal sports areas; fully accessible play equipment

• indoor play space offers: recycled scrap for arts and crafts and dress up clothes, cooking, music, drama, reading corners.

• they open after school and at weekends • estimated build cost of around £800k; but if multiple sites could be achieved that

you feel will meet local needs and our criteria, then do propose them

Adventure playgrounds: access/inclusivity

Photo courtesy of Play England

outdoor adventure play areas offer a range of playable spaces, including large structures that encourage physical activity among 8-13 year olds

Adventure playgrounds: access/inclusivity

Well-designed adventure play areas are inclusive of abilities and gender

Photos courtesy of Play England

The Adventure playground: safety

Supervision by skilled play workers will ensure that children get the most out of their experience in a safe environment


The Adventure playground: safety

they allow children to take managed risks


The Adventure playground: creativity


Adventure playgrounds offer a chance for imaginations to run riot…



…provide a wide range of attractive and stimulating places to explore…


…or just hang out with friends


Adventure playground: creativity

Indoor facilities can provide gateways to activities such as crafts and sport, as well as other services


Adventure playground: creativity

Adventure playgrounds are spaces that children ‘own’, and which they are empowered to shape and develop

The Adventure ‘Play Park’ concept


•Making the most out of our parks and green spaces which often sit in the heart of communities and hold great potential

•Creating child-friendly environments where children and their families can enjoy their leisure time and take part in range of play oportunities and wider activities

Case study – Play parks in Finland

Helsinki has 71 play parks in different parts of the city, which the city council view as strong and long-standing amenities. Parks bring together free play and positive activities in safe, supervised settings, and are fully accessible to disabled children. The parks are at residents’ disposal all year round, operate on an open-access basis and are usually free of charge, including a free meal for children. For example Vallila

play park acts as a meeting point for families with children, as well as other residents. The aim of the park is to give a safe place for children to play in the afternoons, to promote community cohesion and to support

parenthood. The outdoor areas provide activities during all seasons, while the indoor areas have a kitchenette and designated areas for supervised indoor activities. Regular organised activities include

outdoor play and games, singing, arts and crafts.Special activities include trips to children’s theatres

An emerging model? Mile End park, Tower Hamlets

Information and photo courtesy of London borough of Tower Hamlets

Mile End Park currently has four full time park rangers. The rangers act as the first point of within the park and deal with all aspects of the park from managing park events to leading family orientated mini events

In the holidays the rangers are at the fore of organised play activity in the Children Play Park

Rangers also work with corporate and community volunteers on a range of environmental challenges from hedge planting to habitat creation

The vision is to create a park which will offer facilities for the widest possible range of open-air pursuits, from sport and play, to appreciating the arts and enjoying the environment; which will demonstrate excellence and innovation in all aspects of its creation: design, engineering, landscaping, nature conservation

Range of co-located facilities for children, families and communities in widest sense where people can mix and relax

Clearly the result of huge investment, but shows what can be achieved

Case study: Mile End park, Tower Hamlets

The Adventure Park consists of an activity area designed for those aged between 11-17. It has basketball hoops, two shelters together with the latest range of equipment. In the same area is Connexions, the one stop shop for youth.

A Youth Outreach Centre offering cycling, canoeing and orienteering amongst other supervised activity.

Neighbouring Sports Park, Electric Go-Kart track and Extreme Sports Project

Co-financed with the private sector, the Children’s Park provides a wonderful place for children under the age of 8.

Indoor facilities provide a home for a Stay and Play and there is a fantastic playground with water fountains, play equipment and a castle to climb to. A dry river bed complete with boats and bridges, offer an imaginative sand pit.

The Play Park is committed to inclusive Play so that children with or without disabilities can play together. Play sessions are run in the indoor pavilion

Information and photo courtesy of London borough of Tower Hamlets

Other play areas

Play area development: overview

• Play areas are the public play sites and other spaces designated for children’s play

• thousands of across England, many in good condition, many needing significant refurbishment

• some communities suffer from ‘play deserts’, where no facilities exist. Good local play audits and community views should tell you where these are

• unit cost of £50k has been estimated to extensively refit a small-medium, localised play area

• this could include a completely new play area, but overall costs must balance

• pathfinders to develop 28, non-pathfinders to develop 20-25

Play areas: access

Play areas will be more successful if located where children tend to play or hang out already

Photo courtesy of the Free Play Network

Play areas: safety

Play areas can draw from local experiences of vandalism and anti-social behaviour to create a space that works in that context


Play areas: safety

Location is important – this play area is on a route to and from school and other members of the public regularly pass by


Play areas: creativity

natural materials and landscaping can enhance play opportunities



Play areas do not have to be fenced and densely packed with equipment – an open plan can work just as well


Even small spaces can be used creatively to allow a multitude of uses



more challenging play opportunities are needed to promote physical activity, and be attractive to 8 to 13 year-olds


Community engagement

Overview

• Community engagement is absolutely crucial to creating effective play areas. Done properly it releases local energy and generates local ownership. With thanks to Play England, here are a number of points to bear in mind.

Key principles

• think about community involvement at the outset – answer what, who, why, when, how• be clear on the purpose of community involvement and also what is and is not up for discussion• accept that communities are diverse and might not have a single view• give weight to voices that are not usually heard• allow time to explore complex issues• give feedback to participants• create opportunities for different groups to share and exchange ideas• don’t forget parents – their views will shape what their children have access to• Don’t forget residents and community associations – bringing them onboard early can minimise

problems later on

Engaging children and young people

Overview

• The success or failure of any changes you make to the play environment depend on whether Children and young people value them

Key principles – children and young people

• make contact with as diverse a cross-section of the population as you can• disabled and minority ethnic children tend to be particularly underrepresented, so make them a

focus• Think about ‘hard to reach’ children – through agencies that work with them• think about the different stages that children and young people’s views would be useful –

including the initial strategy development, design and delivery • Think about the best methods to gather views – from surveys to focus groups, conferences,

family events

Partnership working

• effective partnership at a number of levels is crucial to improving play opportunities

• within the authority, Children’s services, environment, planning, leisure, transport and housing must work closely together

• in two-tier authorities there will need to be strong links with district and town and parish councils

• community groups and the local voluntary sector make an important contribution to local play provision. Building on the play partnerships that exist as a result of the BIG Lottery Children’s Play initiative, we want to see top-tier authorities engaging a range of partners in decision-making on funding allocations

• we expect authorities to encourage proposals and bids from community groups

Useful Weblinks

• www.playengland.org.uk

• www.kids.org.uk

• www.freeplaynetwork.org.uk

DCSF Contact: [email protected]

http://www.kids.org.uk/

http://www.freeplaynetwork.org.uk/

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