15.02.2014 - Ausgabe: 1/2014

Say no to playgrounds becoming building sites!

"Playground – Yes! Building plot – No". "Stop tearing down our
playgrounds". "When playgrounds become building plots".
The number of headlines like this in the media is rising. The Hessian
authorities want to reduce their mountain of debt and sell playgrounds
to help them do it. However, according to the Frankfurter Allgemeine
(Rhein Main / 07/06/13), these plans have been met by fierce local
opposition and infuriated resi-dents.
"Why don't they talk to local residents?" complained Marcus Zinn,
member of one of the protest action groups.
In Hessen, Rodgau, Dreieich and Mainhausen are planning to turn
play areas into building sites. Meanwhile, the Hessian City and
Community Association called on those responsible to act wisely.
Anyone selling a playground intends to use the proceeds to pay off
debt and not spend it on regular activities, explained acting director
Karl-Christian Schelzke. This means there is enormous danger of the
money not being used to fund other playgrounds or fitness parks but
rather to plug other budget deficits.
Take Karben as an example: A number of the playgrounds in Karben
shall be turned into building plots. These plans stirred up resistance.

100 residents fought against the closures with a petition and went
public with their concerns. Private involvement can make a difference!
"The 'perceived' disappearance of local playgrounds was already
apparent in 2012 and was proven by statistical analyses. This information
showed a 6.9% decline in economic development amongst the
businesses. This trend continued throughout the first quarter of 2013
and economic development hit an alltime low of -8.6%. This shows
that it's no longer a case of the 'perceived' disappearance but rather a
decline in investment and thus the 'actual' disappearance of playgrounds,
says Gerold Gubitz, Managing Director of BSFH (Bundesverband
für Spielplatzgeräte- und Freizeitanlagen-Hersteller e.V.).
"In terms of the social environment for children, removing or ultimately
selling these areas is always counterproductive. Playgrounds
are enormously important because children need suitable areas where
they can meet other children and play. It's ironic when one takes the
need to 'safeguard the future through activity in childhood'
seriously and at the same time proceeds to close down more and more
playgrounds and leisure facilities due to local spending cuts in the community
and to fall below the required level. A social responsibility is
required for the younger generation, which is reflected in a net-work of
all those involved. This doesn't just include parents or, for example,
sports clubs, but more notably the authorities that have to create open
spaces for children and opportunities for them to be able to move
around through means of modern playground facilities. Obviously proceeds
from the sale of land could be ploughed into existing playground
facilities. But then there's still the question of which districts will have
their facilities removed and disadvantage the children who live there
and which districts will receive an investment for playgrounds that will
obviously benefit the children in that area. This solution would only
be feasible if there was a surplus of playground facilities, which is definitely
not the case. It would make more sense to use the proceeds to
build new playground facilities," adds Gubitz.The bottom line from
the BSFH's point of view is that a rethink is necessary in many areas
within the communities and cities if people want an attractive place to
live. This is in no way achievable when you dismantle playground facilities
and then go on to sell the land to finance regional budgets.

Are there approximate guidelines as to
the number/size of playground areas that
a community 'needs' per child?

The DIN 18034 standard (2012 version) is used to aid the planning,
construction and running of playgrounds and open spaces for playing.
It takes into account the latest knowledge in planning and educational
play as well as indications on the space required. The sizes of the areas
mentioned in this standard are benchmarks and are an important support
when it comes to implementing the interests of children and young
people, particularly with regard to urban landuse planning.Areas in
which children and young people reside need to offer corresponding opportunities
for play. It is therefore essential to ensure the accessibility of
playgrounds and open spaces for playing in residential areas. Children
need to be able to get to their playgrounds by themselves. Playgrounds
and open spaces for playing for children 12 years and above need to be
less than a 1000-metre walk away. Playgrounds and open spaces for
playing for children aged between 6 and 12 have to be no more than 400
metres away by foot. Playgrounds and open spaces for playing for children
6 and under have to be less than a 200-metre walk away.
In order to fulfil the different needs for the varying possibilities of play,
activities, movement and perception in conjunction with accessibility,
different sized areas are required: A playground for children under 6
needs a total area of at least 500 sq m. A playground for children aged between
6 and 12 requires a total area of at least 5,000 sq m. A playground
for children 12 and above needs a total area of at least 10,000 sqm.
But there are also other alternatives: the 'Space for children's dreams'
project run by the Berlin Spandau district gathers sponsors from private
enterprises, foundations, organisations and associations at the round
table to help extensively restore public playgrounds.

"We can't always just take them down or close them"

Dismantled play equipment, blocked off playgrounds and empty
playground budget boxes. This is how things looked seven years ago in
Berlin Spandau, but the 'Space for children's dreams' project built up momentum
again. Everyone chips in: voluntary playground mentors, the
city and private sponsors. In seven years, EUR 300,000 has been raised
in private sponsorship and 30 of the 100 public playgrounds have been
extensively renovated. One way forward!
City councillor Carsten Röding, source of ideas and initiator of the project
and also responsible playgrounds in Berlin Spandau, is convinced
that playground sponsorship works.
When the 'Space for children's dreams' project started, 5 out of nearly
100 playgrounds were partly or fully closed and the majority of the play
equipment in several of the playgrounds had to be dismantled for safety
reasons. Also, since there was no money for years, restoration work
Sicherheitseverywhere
came to a halt. It is particularly difficult with playgrounds
because you need to act immediately if a safety issue arises. But we can't
just say "let the children play until we've got enough money together for
new equipment, nothing will happen," so the next step is to attempt repairs.
If this doesn't work, the equipment has to be blocked off, dismantled
or the playground closed altogether.

It's a pathetic show when you, as someone in charge of a playground,
just dismantle play equipment and only sand pits are left there. Luckily
the situation in Spandau hadn't quite reached this stage. Playground
sponsorship – like that organised in Spandau – is a good opportunity.
The collaboration between the public and private sector has managed to
create more social and political awareness of this important playground
issue and has a lasting effect.

Children need open spaces where they can let off steam and learn about
their possibilities and boundaries. Feeling what it's like to go fast on a
slide and testing your skills clambering up a climbing tower: These are
experiences that shape and create little personalities. In Spandau, children
are given space for their dreams and experiences – in the middle of
an urban environment close to home. This is why the Spandau district
authority is creating clean, safe and attractive playgrounds with the
'Space for children's dreams' project in collaboration with its partners.
The project supports the setup of new playgrounds and the restoration of
existing ones. Together, play areas are being durably improved and children's
development is supported. To enable children to visit safe and
varied playgrounds independent of the urban budget situation, partners
from private enterprises, foundations, organisations, associations and
clubs are involved in the 'Space for children's dreams' project. Individual
longterm agreements are made with the sponsors for several years.

The playground concept is based on the principle of sustainability.
Project partners are already involved in the planning stage with designing
and equipping the respective playground. After construction,
the new play equipment or newly designed playground is officially inaugurated
with the sponsor and handed over to the future users. The
Spandau district authority also provides intensive support when it
comes to the upkeep and maintenance of the playground. The idea is
to create attractive playgrounds but also to preserve these areas for the
long term.
This doesn t mean that the playgrounds are plastered with big advertising
boards displaying the logos and product information of the
sponsors; instead there are just small labels on certain pieces of
equipment. The level of commitment from the partners is therefore
very clear – from the labels, posters, flyers, events and obviously
from the project website as well www.raum-fuer-kindertraeume.de –
only in quite a reserved way. The increasing number of partners just
goes to show that this approach works. Seven years ago, the 'Space
for children's dreams' project started off with 3 partners and is now
supported by 11.
The voluntary playground mentors play an important role in the
project. These can be parents and grandparents but also clubs,
schools, nurseries etc. The project now has 30 playground mentors
across 100 playgrounds in Spandau and people are getting in touch
of their own accord because word is getting around. The hurdles are
relatively low when it comes to voluntarily committing yourself to a
playground. It's a case of saying "I feel jointly responsible for my
playground, which means something to me, and I want to take on
responsibility for it." How this looks more specifically can therefore
be very different.
The annual Spandau playground events have given playground
mentors the opportunity, for example, to show their creative side. The
mentors organise lively galas at 'their' playgrounds featuring a wide
range of activities. This year, over the course of the 7th Spandau playground
event (11 May to 6 June 2013) galas and activities were hosted
at 20 different playgrounds. This year sees the fourth children's festival,
which marks the start of the Spandau playground event and is
held in the old town district of Spandau in collaboration with a project
partner: This year was the big 'KinderKunstFest' on 11 May. In
2014, the Spandau playground event will take place from 17 May to
15 June.

The 'Space for children's dreams' project and thus the more intensive
debate surrounding the issue of playgrounds have helped establish an
entirely different approach to the issue whilst also developing a better
way of functioning. Previously, play equipment was picked out of a
catalogue, ordered and the whole thing planned. Now, children, residents
and social institutions associated with playgrounds are involved
in the planning stage, and obviously the sponsors as well. A tendering
process also takes place when selecting a suitable playground concept.
In this process, bids are made by playground manufacturers and a
panel makes a decision.
Today, many more themed playgrounds are being planned and constructed
because experience in Spandau shows that children identify
more with this. This concept has given rise to playgrounds themed
around robbers, munchkins, building sites, beaver lodges and a 'one
world' idea. Playground manufacturers can be extremely creative today
and it doesn't always necessarily cost more money.
With support from sponsors, it has already been possible to design two
accessible playgrounds in Spandau. Following suggestions from the
children involved in the project, 2010 saw the design of two playgrounds
specifically geared towards the needs of children with physical
disabilities. The plans resulted in the construction of an adventure
playground on Schmidt-Knobelsdorf-Straße on the corner of Seeburger
Straße, which was accessible to disabled children and featured slides,
a wheelchair roundabout, wooden play equipment, climbing nets and
sloped areas with synthetic safety surfacing for letting off steam and
rolling around. The second accessible playground was set up at
Falkenhagener Tor. A climbing combo was built here consisting of
ropes, a multifunctional football pitch, a suspension bridge and an
area for the younger children.
In the interests of everyone who uses the playground, every playground
displays a sign prohibiting dogs and smoking and asking people not to
take glass objects into the play areas and to keep the area clean and
tidy. The telephone number for the playground is displayed on each
of these signs. Anybody using the playground is therefore able to inform
the Spandau district authority of any dangerous areas they
notice in the playground. The caller is then able to speak directly with
an employee of the playground's service unit within the park authority.
This means that any areas reported as dangerous can be fixed as
quickly as possible.
Perhaps Spandau can serve as a model for other authorities in relation
to playground sponsorship and provide food for thought and suggestions
for your own playground concepts. One important note: when
approaching companies, this has to be done face to face! A personal
yet professional discussion is the only way to capture interest in the
project. Before it started, Spandau created an additional communication
concept. It is important that amongst its own employees and
those involved in political management are people who have a connection
with children and who fill the project with passion. Good
morale is an important base for the start of any pilot project. Our
experience also shows that despite good preparation, it only works if
the building measures and partners of the project are continuously
supported.

"We invest more time in the planning process than before. However,
with hindsight, it runs much more smoothly and everyone is more
satisfied with the results. The level of commitment in our team is also
even stronger now because success certainly indicates an appreciation
of the work done. Other Berlin districts have since been enquiring
about our sponsorship concept for playgrounds. We are happy to share
our experiences and are glad that our 'Space for children's dreams'
project serves as an example to others", said Carsten Röding (City
councillor), "We're convinced that playground sponsorship is a good
approach for the future, and an approach that also works! We are able
to sense the positive response of the locals and sponsors and we
Baumaßnahsee
that we are progressing. As is the case for other authorities, our
budget situation is still difficult, which means we are unable to carry
out all the building measures we want to. And it is at this exact point
when the need for playground sponsorship becomes visible.
It would be great if our project was able to find enough longterm sponsors
to enable us to help immediately and repair or replace equipment.
To be able to do this, we would obviously need a few big supraregional
companies to get involved. I would be so happy if
companies like JAKO-O, Playmobil, Cornelsen
and even the Bertelsmann Stiftung would say
they'd support our 'Space for children's dreams'
project, because we see that company sponsorship
also comes down to the respective playground and
additional improvement of other playground bids
is required".
P.S.
Spandau's commitment for safer, cleaner, more attractive
playgrounds has also led to initial successes in relation
to policy. First of all, on a district level, this involves
an agreement which, despite the tight district budget for the
regional playground programme, will be met with the earmarked
expenses for the restoration of Spandau playgrounds
only. Secondly, regardless of all party political boundaries, a national
programme in 2014 and 2015 (each amounting to EUR 10
million) intended to support nurseries throughout Berlin will now be
opened up for the restoration of playgrounds.
It pays to stay on the ball consistently for children and public playgrounds!

TM / Simone Maier (Spandau district authority of
Berlin, advisor of city council and project management
of 'Space for children's dreams')

Photos: Space for children's dreams