Play_Park_Strategy_2021-2030

A successful play park is defined by the amount of usage it gets. Children come back time after time to a play park that can sustain their interest and this means designing play spaces to delight them. Similar sized equipment or a limited choice of activities will not meet their needs. Play parks should be designed with child-eyes. There are no recognised magic formulae to design environments for children. Well-designed, constructed and appropriately used play parks can help create positive physical and emotional development for children. Appropriately designed play parks allow younger children to explore new methods of playing and to take qualified risks. Parents and carers can help nurture positive physical and emotional development by observing, supervising, facilitating and complimenting, but not directly interfering unless there is a concern for safety. In designing a play park, the prime objective is to create a facility where children learn through play in an outdoor environment. To meet this objective, the play park needs to promote markedly varied forms of play from quiet focused activities to busy active play. 46 The Council will assess and categorise all play parks in the district following an objective and criteria-based assessment to aspire to 'Gold Standard' and as a minimum, 'Silver Standard' is achieved and maintained. Principle 4: Play Value Score and Minimum Standard Design guidelines Creative design Designers should apply research, theory, experience and observation as a means to develop ideas and stimulate the design process. Designers should aim to combine and incorporate: The social science of childhood; The environment (natural and historical); The full theory and standards of play park design; Emerging industry innovations and features; and Sustainable selection of materials and components.