19.08.2016 - Ausgabe: 4/2016

Challenges, adventures, games and sports - but always taking into account the necessary safety

By Ingrid Krämer, Graduate Engineer (University of Applied Sciences) and Landscape Architect

The playground at Silcherplatz in Heilbronn

Silcherplatz is situated at the intersection of two main traffic axes. It is a very noisy place characterised by traffic noise and where you would never hear the sound of chirping birds. And still, the southern part of the city is one of the most densely populated areas of Heilbronn. 4,256 children and youngsters live within a radius of 1,000 m, most of them with a migration background. Many of them have difficult family backgrounds characterised by addiction, problems with violence, limited integration or abuse. That is why these children spend most of their time in the street.

 

The concept

It was not just a simple playground which should be built for these children. Above all, it should be a meeting point, a recreation area and at the same time a place that invites children to move, to play, to try themselves out, without it being interchangeable and boring. And safety was of particular importance, something that is easier said than done.

Something special should be created for these children as the unusual design of the playground is showing. Thus the children feel comfortable and valued. It is worth noting that since the official opening of the playground in 2013, there has been no vandalism at all. This is a sign that the children and youngsters accept and respect this place. The feedback of the social workers, who are offering support in emergency situations, is very positive. Silcherplatz has lost its "ghetto-style ambience". Also children from other neighbourhoods are coming to play there.

Normally, Silcherplatz is considered a typical "steel game world" and people used to be scared of vandalism, because at night this place represents a certain risk potential. This not withstanding, it was decided to use natural materials, stone and wood. "Kukuk", a Stuttgart-based company, has developed and designed a special game concept which has a lot to offer. Attractions and challenges are hidden inside the cubes which are fixed like on a string of pearls between the up to 8 metre-high wooden struts. To move forward, the children must climb through vertical wooden struts, creep and crawl through horizontally placed ropes and cross some different types of bridges. Courage and skilfulness are needed when climbing into the "rope cage" which is hanging at 7-metre height. Different sorts of swings complete the sport and leisure offer.

The requirements to be met were specified as follows: to provide attractive offers for children of any age. And finally they should get a recreational ground fit for all kinds of weather, a playground with a highly stimulating character, many different fitness offerings and different levels of difficulty.

What is it that makes this playground so special? "The special aspect of this playground is its central location, near the main access road to the city centre. Everybody can see the pole-wood and rocky-landscape installation in the middle of the city centre, but not everybody likes it”, says Hand-Peter Barz, Head of the Heilbronn Office for Green Areas.

 

…..Safety……

Of course, before it was officially opened,  the playground was inspected and approved by TÜV, the German Technical Inspection Authority. But, when the City of Heilbronn received phone calls informing them that children were sitting ON the cage at 7 metres height and people claimed that this playground was too dangerous, the city authority knew that they needed to take action in order to help overcome these concerns. In concrete, fears were voiced referring to the granite rocks and their sharp edges. Other concerns were that the children could fall backwards - when pushed by other children - onto the wooden struts installed crosswise and get injured. And some people required that the playground area be completely fenced in.

In particular, parents were worried and said that this playground was unsafe. Children could fall and get hurt. The playground had, of course, been inspected by an external expert before its official opening. Thereupon, some minor details were improved, sources of risk were reduced and the playground was approved by the German Technical Inspection Authority. But then that a great wave of protest was launched. Some parents demanded a completely new design although the design planning had been coordinated in advance with the so-called “Südstadt Kids” (kids of the southern part of the city). And suddenly, even some politicians became hesitant, says Mr Barz.

In order to clarify the question of an "improper use" of the "rope cage" and all other concerns, a TÜV expert was again commissioned by the municipality to perform another inspection of the playground area. Regarding the ascent onto the cage, the municipality was satisfied by the expert's opinion, according to which climbing outside the cage - and not inside as originally intended - was only possible for climbers with a large gripping distance.  Furthermore, children of this age group generally know how to protect themselves in playground areas. Besides, the fall zones are not critical. The edges of the granite rock had already been rounded off during the construction work and could therefore not be criticised. The risk to get injured due to the danger of falling had to be considered as low because of the way the wooden struts had been installed.

Suddenly we found ourselves compelled to explain in detail why this playground was not a source of increased risk for children. We had some fierce discussions with parents and politicians which led to the involvement of our legal department. Once more, I commissioned a TÜV expert, because nobody was willing to believe our internal experts anymore. The TÜV expert once again explained to the critics in detail that everything was in order, that the playground area was safe and that there was absolutely no need for action. In the end, we did not have to make any changes. "The children love this playground and meanwhile, even their parents have accepted it", argues Hans-Peter Barz.

As to the demand to fence the playground area in, this was not considered necessary because the distance between the play area and the resident road (zone 30 km/h) had been calculated generously. Besides the playground area can be seen in due time by drivers and motorists while, in any case, speed must be reduced because of a narrow curve. Apart from that, there is nothing attractive outside the playground borders that would motivate the children to leave this area spontaneously.

 

Playing involves risks

Irrespective of unsafe or safe playgrounds, playing does always involve risks. The City of Heilbronn knows how children are tackling the challenges there and can be sure that all necessary safety regulations have been complied with. It is certainly true that this playground allows children to climb up high. But if they dare to do so, they are definitely able to cope with the respective challenges. Children know how to protect themselves. In case they really slip, they would surely regain balance on the next rope. And wherever necessary, children normally help each other. Besides, the safety standards for playground areas imply that only such kinds of accidents must be avoided which can cause irreversible damage, such as lost limbs or death. Scratches, bumps, bruises, sprains and even bone fractures are injuries which must be accepted and cannot be excluded. Because children must learn step by step how to deal with risks. Minor accidents must simply be taken into account. That is what parents will have to understand and what our communication was aimed at.

 

Thank you!

Today, it is a pleasure to see how some children are already playing on the playground before school starts in the morning. Some time later, the kindergarten groups come and play there while in the afternoons, it is the mothers or fathers who are coming with their children. Then, when evening comes, the playground is nearly overcrowded by children of all ages.

Thank you very much! There could be no better reward for Heilbronn, a city which has done a good job.

 

 

Photo: City of Heilbronn