Transcript Play pathfinder bidders' presentation

Play Pathfinders: bidders’ slide pack
Introduction
•
Overview
–
–
–
–
•
Adventure playgrounds/playparks
–
–
–
–
•
access/inclusivity
safety
creativity
An adventure playpark case study
Play areas
–
–
–
•
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
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
outdoor adventure
play areas offer a
range of playable
spaces, including
large structures that
encourage physical
activity among 8-13
year olds
Photo courtesy of Play England
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
Photo courtesy of Play England
The Adventure playground: safety
they allow children to
take managed risks
Photo courtesy of Play England
The Adventure playground: creativity
Adventure
playgrounds offer a
chance for
imaginations to run
riot…
Photo courtesy of Play England
The Adventure playground: creativity
…provide a wide
range of attractive
and stimulating
places to explore…
Photo courtesy of Play England
The Adventure playground: creativity
…or just hang out
with friends
Photo courtesy of Play England
Adventure playground: creativity
Indoor facilities can
provide gateways to
activities such as
crafts and sport, as
well as other services
Photo courtesy of Play England
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 longstanding 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
Photo courtesy of Play England
An emerging model? Mile End park, Tower Hamlets
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
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
Case study: Mile End park, Tower Hamlets
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
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
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 smallmedium, 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 antisocial behaviour to
create a space that
works in that context
Photo courtesy of the Free Play Network
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
Photo courtesy of the Free Play Network
Play areas: creativity
natural materials and
landscaping can enhance
play opportunities
Photo courtesy of the Free Play Network
Play areas: creativity
Play areas do not
have to be fenced
and densely packed
with equipment – an
open plan can work
just as well
Play areas: creativity
Even small spaces
can be used
creatively to allow a
multitude of uses
Photo courtesy of the Free Play Network
Play areas: creativity
more challenging
play opportunities
are needed to
promote physical
activity, and be
attractive to 8 to 13
year-olds
Photo courtesy of the Free Play Network
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 decisionmaking 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]