Beth Cooper, creative play consultant at Timberplay, looks at how the economic downturn has switched focus to our struggling city centres.

Whist there is conflicting evidence as to how far we are into recovery, what is of interest is how the city centre can react and think creatively beyond pure retail, to encourage people to come into the city and to provide sufficient interest and experience for those living within city centres.

Half of the world’s population currently resides within cities and it is estimated that by the year 2025 60% of children will be living in city centres. It is therefore vital that the planning process considers this and support the development of spaces which respond to and nurture the specific needs of children. This needs to be set against the current context of growing concern about the loss of spaces for play and a change in culture for children and young people, with reduced access to play particularly within the city scape. As children’s roaming distances are significantly curtailed for a combination of reasons (i.e. increase in traffic, parental anxiety) it is now more important than ever that we ensure we offer local play opportunities, ideally just on the doorstep.

This discussion goes beyond merely advocating for traditional play areas and designated play spaces. There are many ways of making the city more playful. In discussing the role of play in urban spaces, Jeanette Emery-Wallis from LUC, responsible for designing some of the most highly regarded play areas in the UK, including Princess Diana in Kensington Gardens, Heartlands and Brockwell Park suggests:-

“Play opportunities should be integral to the fabric of our cities, be they play streets, roof gardens, pocket parks, public open spaces, school playgrounds etc. We have seen obesity levels rise significantly in children in the past decade, places to play and be active will become ever more vital in addressing the health needs of our children and young adults.”

Sheffield City Centre offers a great example of creating a playful family-friendly environment. In the year 2000 they transformed the much maligned Peace Gardens with central fountains and several water channels through the site. This playful design-led development has enabled the permissive use, both on an everyday level with the fountains and grassy areas to meet and rest and through interventions such as festivals and spacechanging activities. In this space the play goes beyond only the physical of which Jeanette speaks to the social and cultural. It has also had a positive impact on the economy of the local surroundings and here retail units are in demand.

This space, freely available within the heart of Sheffield city centre welcomes visitors of all ages providing a peaceful oasis amongst the bustle of the city where parents can rest, children play and all can share. The space also proves popular for older children and teenagers, attracted to water in the heat of summer and able to carve out their own space to be with their peers.

This is just one of a growing number of examples, but as a Sheffield resident, one that has been heartening to observe and see develop at close quarters. This work and the efforts of pioneering urban planners and developers promise great things in the changing landscape of city centres, and I for one look forward to seeing a rise of urban spaces that are far more welcoming for children and families.