RESOURCES

RECENT covERagE about PLAY AND ITS BENEFITS

Play encompasses problem-solving, investigation, creativity, movement, collaboration, imagination, conflict-resolution, and so much more. Its benefits on mental health, physical health, and children’s learning, are well-documented. Adventure play can also help cities build a greener future. Learn more via FastCompany, New York Magazine, New York Public Library, The Guardian, Social Life Project, The Economist, Financial Times, StreetsBlog, Vox, PlayRights Magazine, New York Magazine, The New York Times, and NPR (click on image to access article).

MEdia covERagE about play:groundnyc

On Governors Island, Mountains of Junk Where Children Find Adventure
Correal, Annie. The New York Times, 2016

The Junk Playground of New York City
Walker, Timothy. The Atlantic, 2016

Inside NYC's Riskiest Playground Where Parents Aren't Allowed Inside
David, Rebecca; Stern, Andrew. NBC News, 2018

Making Playgrounds a Little More Dangerous
Schiffman, Richard. The New York Times, 2019

5 tangible tips for hosting a pop-up playground in your neighborhood
Brandon, Elisavetta. FastCompany, 2021

State of play
Kallai, Yoni; Cote, Alex; Fortin, Zoe; Mogilevich, Mariana. Urban Omnibus, 2023

FURTHER READING

These resources, which include articles, interviews and books, were compiled by our team. They provide more information, context and discussion, when thinking about play and transforming our city through play. They are listed here in chronological order. Some of them are available via our little library at The Yard on Governors Island. Happy reading!

How Not to Cheat Children: The Theory of Loose Parts
Nicholson, Simon. Landscape Architecture Vol 62, 1971

Containing Children: Some Lessons on Planning for Play from New York City
Hart, Roger. Environment and Urbanization, 14(2), 2002

No Fear: Growing Up in a Risk Averse Society
Gill, Tim. Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, 2007

The Playwork Primer
Wilson, Penny. The Alliance for Childhood, 2010

Managing Risk in Play Provision
Ball, David; Gill, Tim; Spiegal, Bernard. Play Safety Forum & National Children’s Bureau, 2012

Adventure: The Value of Risk in Children’s Play
Almon, Joan. Alliance for Childhood, 2013

The Overprotected Kid
Rosin, Hanna. The Atlantic, 2014

The New Adventure Playground Movement: How Communities across the USA are Returning Risk and Freedom to Childhood
Leichter-Saxby, Morgan. Notebook Publishing, 2015

Playing It Up: With Loose Parts, Playpods and Adventure Playgrounds
Almon, Joan. The Alliance for Childhood, 2017

The Design of Childhood: How the Material World Shapes Independent Kids
Lange, Alexandra. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2018

Designing Child-Friendly High Density Neighbourhoods
Krysiak, Natalia. Cities for Play, 2020

Play in Crisis: Support for Parents and Carers
Casey, Theresa. International Play Association, 2020

Adventurous Play as a Mechanism for Reducing Risk for Childhood Anxiety: A Conceptual Model
Dodd, Helen; Lester, Kathryn. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 2021

Playful Cities Toolkit
Arup, the LEGO Foundation, and the Real Play Coalition, 2022

Decline in Independent Activity as a Cause of Decline in Children’s Mental Well-being: Summary of the Evidence
Gray, Peter; Lance, David; Bjorklund, David. The Journal of Pediatrics, 2023.

ADVENTURE PLAYGROUNDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Adventure Playground (Berkeley, Ca.): 160 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94710
https://www.cityofberkeley.info/adventureplayground/

Adventure Playground at the Parish School: 11001 Hammerly Blvd, Houston, TX
https://www.parishschool.org/campus-life/adventure-play/

Huntington Central Park - Adventure Playground : Huntington Beach,CA
https://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/residents/parks_facilities/parks/huntington_central_park/adventure_playground.cfm

Irvine Adventure Playground at University Park : Irvine, CA
https://funorangecountyparks.com/adventure-playground-irvine-university-park.html

Mercer Island Adventure Playground : Mercer Island, WA
http://www.mercergov.org/Page.asp?NavID=2768

Koop Adventure Playground Champaign : Urbana, IL
https://www.koopadventureplayground.com/

Freerange Playground : Denver, CO
http://www.freerangeplayground.org/

Ithaca Children’s Garden : Ithaca, NY
http://ithacachildrensgarden.org/

Sallie Foster Adventure Playground : Omaha, Nebraska
https://www.facebook.com/Salliefosteradventureplayground/