IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME

One of the worst things a grownup can hear when they enter a playground is a small voice saying “I have to pee.”

Playgrounds are designed for the play of children, but not their bladders. Or their stomachs. Or their tired feet. Playgrounds with nearby restrooms had 44% more users and increased the likelihood of staying longer by 48%. Areas that supported eating had 9% increased use for each additional picnic table.4

Caregivers need places to sit with clear lines of sight to play areas. Backs and arms are essential for those less physically able, with adjacent spaces for wheelchairs, mobility devices, and strollers. Perches such as boulders and logs help adults get closer to the play areas, encouraging social interaction.

Breastfeeding parents often prefer more secluded spaces to sit within sight of the play, and children benefit from these areas as well, during times they are overstimulated or emotionally overwhelmed.

Setting the stage for play requires more than choosing equipment. It means understanding the needs of all users. The inclusion of supportive site features ensures that people feel welcome to stay and play for as long as they want to (not for when their bladder tells them its time to go).

4 Playground Design: Contribution to Duration of Stay and Implications for Physical Activity, Environmental Research and Public Health, 2023. Cohen D, Talarowski M, Han B, Williamson S, Galfond E, Young D, Eng S, McKenzie T.

WITHIN 1/2 MILE OF A PLAYGROUND ARE

People Living To Visit Weekly

5X MORE LIKELY THAN THOSE LIVING FURTHER AWAY