September 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 12

WE ARE PARKS AND RECREATION
Bridging the Play Gap
Making playgrounds equitable
By Kevin Paul
F
ew things spark the imagination like a playground. Swings soar,
slides beckon and laughter fills the air as kids large and small
explore a landscape of adventure. The benefits for physical, mental
and social growth are clear. But for many children across the
United States, this scene is out of reach. The critical issue of play space
inequity is something park and recreation professionals are uniquely positioned
to solve.
Defining Play Space
Inequity
Play space inequity encompasses
three components: access, use and
belonging. Access refers to the availability
of quality play spaces within
a community. Ensuring that existing
spaces are actively used and maintained
is another key element. And
beyond physical infrastructure lies
the equally critical aspect of belonging.
A truly equitable play space is
one where children feel welcomed,
represented and affirmed - a space
that reflects the unique needs and
assets of a community and fosters a
sense of inclusion.
Play space inequity encompasses
three components: access, use and
belonging.
The Landscape of Inequity
At the heart of the issue lies a stark
reality: not all children have fair access
to play spaces. The same disparities
that exist in funding for education,
transit and healthcare also are
present in the availability of quality
playgrounds in neighborhoods and
schools. Part of the reason for this is
history. Public playgrounds, parks,
beaches and pools were exclusive,
racially segregated spaces for much
of the 20th century. In the book
Race, Riots, and Roller Coasters, author
Victoria Wolcott explains:
African Americans' demand for the
right to use recreation was not simply
about integration and interracial friendship
but about power and possession.
For this reason the struggle for recreational
space was not only the purview
of southern nonviolent activists but a national
movement that included teenagers,
mothers, and ordinary consumers who
demanded equal access without having
to face racial epithets and daily violence.
Civil rights organizers and ordinary
people fought hard for access
to these and other public spaces,
and their efforts eventually led to
legal integration of public facilities.
In response, many white politicians
and community leaders decided to
close or privatize rather than integrate.
Previously,
public
recreational
spaces moved to the suburbs,
along with the predominantly
white tax base that funded their
construction and maintenance.
Patterns of racial exclusion, infrastructure
funding challenges and
economic trends are just a few factors
that affect the ability of kids
to reach a safe playground today.
Access to play looks different in
each community, so it's critical that
decision-makers equip themselves
with high-quality local data about
who has access to quality play
spaces and who doesn't.
The Role of Communities
Teaming up with communities to
drive change lies at the heart of how
to solve play space inequity. Organizations
like
KABOOM! have
adopted a community-centered
approach, partnering
with
12 Parks & Recreation | SEP T EMBER 2 0 2 4 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
local
residents to co-create play spaces
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAINT PAUL (MINNESOTA) PARKS AND RECREATION
September 2024 – Parks & Recreation

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