Design Vision for Play Spaces Utrecht: Playing in Your Own Neighbourhood
Country
Netherlands
2022-Ongoing
Aimed for
(03-05) Preschoolers, (05-12) Children, (13-18) Adolescents
Type of partnership
Public
Sectors
Urban Planning & Design, Physical Activity & Sports, Public administration
Innovation
Methodological, Social
Aim
Utrecht’s Design Vision for Play Spaces aims to create a city where every child can easily access play areas within 200 meters of their home, making public spaces more playable. This includes larger play areas for community engagement and smaller spaces for younger children, along with sports facilities for youth. The initiative aligns with the Spatial Strategy 2030, the Public Health Bill, and the direction for a Liveable City and Social Facilities, considering the number of children in neighbourhoods and barriers to access.
Outcome
Outcome
The vision, its framework, and implementation strategy ensure an increase, improvement, and better distribution of outdoor play areas in the city of Utrecht. With the ambition of having 5% of the neighbourhood's spaces reserved for play areas, the vision guides new developments and supports changes in established neighbourhoods, aligning and contributing to other city policies, such as sports, traffic safety, air quality, green spaces, and climate change. Moreover, with the play area scans, the city can assess not only the quantity and quality of outdoor play areas but also their geographical distribution and who has access to them, with the support of neighbourhood associations, to help reduce inequities in children's access to outdoor play and physical activities. The gradual and consistent outcomes are translated into improved urban spaces and optimised internal frameworks, delivering a healthier city.