How to Turn the City into a Playground for Grown-ups (and others, too!)

Bruno Taylor has a few good ideas about reclaiming public space for play.  He writes:

71% of adults used to play on the streets when they were young. 21% of children do so now. Are we designing children and play out of the public realm?

Play equipment, as we commonly think of it, dictates the user - playgrounds full of bright colors and thick plastic are for children, not adults, and this unspoken rule is a maxim we adults don't frequently break.  But should public space - the places where we all gather, and where so much social interaction happens - be devoid of play?  Bruno thought not, and took direct action.

Above: Bruno Taylor's installation of a swing in a London bus stop. Photo source.

He has just completed a Masters in Industrial Design at Central Saint Martin, and has designed both the swing set above, and a rocking bench for the reclamation of public space for play.  You can find more pictures and details at Pixelsumo.

Comments

[Mike Amos-Simpson]

love the look of that - just want to see an old lady walking past at the wrong moment and see the resulting commotion complete with frantic waving of walking stick!

Theres no doubt less children play on the street now - I don't think the issue is directly related to play equipment or spaces though - the point was that children did actually play on the street - often with no equipment.

Nowadays even if theres not a 'no ball games' sign in the street, there are too many cars (parked and moving), theres a perception caused by the media that the 'streets' are dangerous (not ignoring that some actually are), and its less likely that people will know their neighbours well enough to trust their children are safe out of sight.

I think because of this the need for play spaces has been forced but in doing so it compartmentalises children & young people into particular spaces & so maybe even making the acceptance of children playing in other areas less so.

I'd like to see residential areas pedestrianised with secure parking areas away from streets so that people can play and walk in the streets without fear of cars. I'm told its an idea that can't happen but I don't see why - the idea of having to walk to get to & from your car isn't that unthinkable, many of us never even had access to a car as kids.

(I'd like to see monkey swings in bus shelters too!)

[James David]

Mike,
I think you're right about the confluence of reasons why we don't play in the streets as much anymore. Certainly it's not just age alone that's contributed.

Your idea to pedestrianize city streets is amazing! As a bicyclist, the change would be Utopian. Even if when it's temporary (like the block parties we have here in Cambridge, MA) you can feel the change.

I definitely encourage you to put up those monkey swings - and if you do, take pictures!