Play Streets

"Work Pad" . . . in-process

This "kit-building" project for Earth Car Free Day 2001 is being led by Paul Tranter, whose research interests for a number of years have centered on the study of sustainable cities and transport systems, and child-friendly cities. His 1996 article in the International Play Journal on Play Streets provides a good introduction to this largely neglected, but important component of a sustainabile trasnort transation strategy.

Temporary Introduction

The Concept in Brief

Allowing children to play in the local streets has benefits not only for the children, but also for parents involved in their transport, for adults of the neighbourhood concerned with building a sense of community involvement, and for the community at large in terms of lowering traffic congestion and related problems. Play Streets suggests strategies that may assist the process of reclaiming residential streets as play space for children. It also contains an extensive bibliography on the subject.

Summary of Paper

This fine paper explains how the residential street has progressively lost its function as a play space. In many cities, spontaneous informal child play on streets has been largely replaced by car-dependent, adult supervised games which are more formally organised and distant from the local neighbourhood. There is an assumption by many parents, politicians and planners that a large number of parks, playgrounds and large back yards will satisfy children's recreation needs, and there will be no requirement for children to use streets as play areas.

This paper argues a case that streets need to be reclaimed as play space. Research incorporating children's views reveals that they place a high value on streets as play space. Allowing children to play in the local streets has benefits not only for the children, but also for parents involved in their transport, for adults of the neighbourhood concerned with building a sense of community involvement, and for the community at large in terms of lowering traffic congestion and related problems. Strategies that may assist the process of reclaiming residential streets as play space for children are discussed.

Full paper

Available in our Library . (See Play Streets)

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Also see:
  • Children's Play Council : UK
    The Children's Play Counci, Transport 2000 and the Child Accident Prevention Trust are campaigning for Home Zones in the UK. They are talking to the government to get Home Zones soon.
  • Children-Play Discussion List (UK) : Back to top

    And here is where you come in

    This is where you come in... the one-click link you can use to share your ideas and tips about people and places with whom we should be in touch to make a success out of ECFD 2001. Better yet, why not click here to reply to the EarthCarFreeDay mailbox so that your information and comments will get to the others immediately, and perhaps stimulate them in turn.

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