The Case for Play

Play is essential for children’s physical, emotional, and cognitive development. Children develop their language and communication skills, concentration, social skills, motor skills, and more through the various types of landscapes that support play, which are as varied as the children (and adults!) that play in them. Highlighting various types of play including nature play, risky play, and inclusive play, these projects and studies help make the case that play landscapes can offer a wide range of benefits while integrating sustainability with the most necessary ingredient - fun! 

1. Case Study Brief

   

   Teardrop Park

   New York, New York

   “Children in highly urban environments often lack access to play, particularly nature-based play. This New York City park offers unprecedented nature play experiences to children who live in the surrounding apartment towers with its undulating topography, interactive water fountains, and stones for climbing. ”

2. Fast Fact

   A study of data provided by 575 Australian mothers with a child between the ages of 2 and 5 indicated that outdoor play time was positively associated with cooperative and easy-going social skills along with...

   “In today's world, outdoor play time unfortunately has to compete with time spent looking at a screen. Nature-based play gets children outdoors while building important social skills. ”

3. Case Study Brief

   

   Vista Hermosa

   Los Angeles, California

   “Lack of access to places to play is closely tied to historic and systemic inequities. Children living in Los Angeles often do not have adequate access to parks, particularly in underserved neighborhoods. The creation of this park improved park access in the surrounding neighborhood by 13%. Children's activities and programming are provided in both Spanish and English, appropriately serving the needs of the surrounding community. ”

4. Fast Fact

   An eight-year longitudinal study of 3,173 children from 12 communities in Southern California suggests that if all children had commensurate access to parkland and recreation programs near their homes, over 9.5% of...

   “As this study demonstrates, having access to somewhere to play is not just a matter of having fun - it is intricately tied to health outcomes. ”

5. Case Study Brief

   

   Blue Hole Regional Park

   Wimberley, Texas

   “Nature play spaces have the added benefit of incorporating recycled and local natural materials. This regional park has six nature-based playground features that were constructed using materials from the site itself including limestone, cedar roots, and recycled telephone poles.”

6. Fast Fact

   Environments supportive of risky (challenging and exciting) outdoor play promoted increased play time, physical activity, social interactions, creativity, and resilience among children. The overall positive health...

   “This study highlights the concept of risky play, demonstrating that spaces that support risk-taking and excitement can maximize many of the benefits that can be garnered through play. Importantly, the benefits of risky play were determined to outweigh potential negative effects.”

7. Benefits Toolkit

   

   System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth (SOPLAY)

   Thomas L. McKenzie

   “Ready to understand how people of all ages and abilities play on your site? This protocol provides all the tools necessary for observing and collecting data on outdoor play. ”

8. Case Study Brief

   

   Seattle Children's PlayGarden

   Seattle, Washington

   “Although all play spaces should be designed to inclusive, many do not accommodate users with disabilities. Design can go a long way toward establishing spaces that are welcoming to all. This playground was designed to be a place for children of all abilities to play outdoors together, offering opportunities for interaction and growth. ”

9. Fast Fact

   A study of 8 British schools revealed that moderate to vigorous physical activity levels were 32% higher for children on playgrounds with brightly colored markings as compared to activity levels of children on...

   “Design can play a role in increasing physical activity levels on a playground in the simplest of ways, as demonstrated in this British study. ”

10. Case Study Brief

    

    Chester Arthur Schoolyard

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    “This Philadelphia schoolyard sought to improve students' physical and mental health while welcoming the rest of the neighborhood into the space and being responsible stewards of the environment. The new schoolyard supported a marked increase in activity levels for children during recess by using the SOPLAY protocol above. ”