ENVIRONMENT MATTERS

The landscape of a playground has a significant influence on use.

We developed an atmosphere scale to measure the impact: 1 has new trees/ immature shrubs; 2 has mature shrubs; 3 has immature trees; 4 has mature trees outside the playground; and 5 has mature trees inside the playground.

For every scale increment, there was 26% more use, meaning that playgrounds with mature trees had twice as many users as those with no trees. Mature trees also increased the likelihood of longer playground stay time by 19%.6

We saw an increase in MVPA between 66-69% in playgrounds that were fully or partially enclosed with mature shrubs and fencing, potentially due to caregiver comfort in allowing children to roam. Enclosure needs to be balanced with visibility. Playgrounds with clear sight lines were more popular. For every 1000sf of visibility in the playground, there was an increase in use by 3%.

We found that getting adults moving meant encouraging them to play with their children, especially on play features they felt comfortable on, but also by having an environment with loose parts, from blocks and toys, to sticks and flowers, to site surfaces that invited interaction, like sand and wood chips.

A balanced approach to playground design that focuses on the wellbeing and comfort of all visitors will help families establish lifelong health through play.

6 Playground Design: Contribution to Duration of Stay and Implications for Physical Activity, Environmental Research and Public Health, 2023