Sat, 11 Nov 2006
Urban Improvement Through Child's Play
[
PLANetizen: Front Page]
This article from Metropolis Magazine looks at a new trend that is revisioning the playground by expanding its scope and encouraging kids to get out of the backyard.
"The Wilsonville (Oregon) project is part of a burgeoning 'creative
playground' movement - one that eschews the homogenous regulated
space of contemporary recreational areas in favor of diverse
open-ended 'playscapes.' Ranging from Modernist set pieces to bucolic
panoramas, the new projects aim to move beyond gymnasium-style
functions (crawling, swinging, climbing). Instead the goal is to
stimulate kids' imaginations, encourage independent exploration,
and - more ambitiously - incorporate the twenty-first-century playground
into the fabric of community life."
"Much of the design momentum originates in Denmark, Holland, and
Germany, where children are increasingly viewed as an indicator group
for successful urban planning."
"Creating more inclusive spaces for children and families, so the
logic goes, is one step toward making the entire city a safer and
more welcoming place for kids."
Source: Metropolis Magazine, Nov 08, 2006
Full Story: The Politics of Play
