Playgrounds

Guidelines for the design of playgrounds

The availability of good play environments for children is very important as play and physical activity have a positive impact on children's health and well-being. Research also shows that children's stress resistance, motor skills and ability to concentrate improve when they have access to good play environments. There are also other benefits to creating these environments. For example, a good playground should be inviting to everyone in the community, regardless of background. It can promote everyday life for citizens and provide conditions for better cohesion, integration and safety.

There are many aspects to consider when designing play environments. A playground should obviously be safe so that no one is seriously injured. At the same time, the playground should include challenges to add some excitement. This makes the place more stimulating and interesting.

Children are individuals with different preferences, likes and dislikes. Therefore, there should also be a variety between and within different playgrounds. There should be open spaces with good visibility and opportunities to run and play, but equally important are places to get away. Depending on your personality and mood, you should be able to choose to sit quietly by the side and observe or play alone. Also, not all children have the same abilities, so accessible playgrounds are essential. All playgrounds should be accessible as far as possible, based on the conditions of the site.

Research shows that playing in natural environments is preferable. Integrating playgrounds into existing nature creates greater play value. Children are allowed to use their own creativity and imagination to a greater extent if the play environment contains components other than the built playground. In addition, research shows that play becomes less gendered and more equal in nature.

Children's motor skills also improve when playing in green and natural environments. Children develop control over their bodies by balancing, climbing, canoeing, running and jumping. Nature-like environments with a wide variety of topography and materials make it irresistible for children to play and naturally develop their skills.

Moröhöjden's playground. An example of a playground that is well integrated into the existing forest environment, which contributes to increased play value.

Playground categories

Play environments can be prepared playgrounds, with traditional play equipment but it can also be a forest grove or a simple gravel track for cycling. It can be a sledding hill, a walkway with mirrors or a log balance track. Not all places can be used in all seasons, or at all times of the day, but the more variety there is, the more children can find the place where they feel most comfortable. Skellefteå municipality has previously used the playground categories Stadsdelslekplats and Närlekplats. Now two new playground categories are being added - Excursion Playground and Play Forest. The existence of playgrounds of varying types and sizes is positive as it provides a wider range and more choices. In this way, a larger target group is included.

Guidelines for prioritizing playgrounds

Skellefteå municipality is currently responsible for 97 public playgrounds. These playgrounds require continuous care and maintenance. But to meet the safety requirements set by law, more extensive renovations are also required at regular intervals. The strong growth that Skellefteå is undergoing can also provide a need and basis for new playgrounds. In some cases, decommissioning may be relevant, for example in areas where newer and more attractive places for play exist.

To make as fair a prioritization as possible between different playgrounds and locations in the municipality, we need to take into account several aspects. These include the geographical context such as the distance between playgrounds, dangerous or unsafe barriers such as major roads and watercourses, and location in the terrain/area. The number of children living in the playground's catchment area is of course also important to consider, as well as how many playgrounds there are in relation to the number of children in the area. As you know, Skellefteå is facing a large population increase and we will see many new homes and new residential areas being built within the next ten years. This is also an important aspect to consider when planning the playgrounds.

Movium, the think tank at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, has developed a model for inventorying the play value of playgrounds. The model evaluates various qualities that provide important conditions for stimulating play. Among other things, the site's topography, vegetation, influence, accessibility, etc. are analyzed. In the summer of 2019, a play value inventory was carried out on all the municipality's playgrounds and this is now used as a basis for prioritization.

The age and condition of the playgrounds are most important when it comes to prioritizing, as a playground in poor condition can eventually become dangerous.

The guidelines for play environments were adopted by the urban planning committee in April 2021.

The full text of the guidelines

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