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At a time of increasing urbanisation and rapid urban growth, it is becoming increasingly important to create environments that are suitable for all residents, including the very young. Child-friendly cities aim to create places where children’s needs and rights are prioritised.
Child-friendly cities are not just a vision for the future; they are already a reality in many places around the world. By prioritising children’s needs and involving them in the urban planning process, cities can create environments that benefit all residents, regardless of age.
Below are some examples of cities around the world that have pioneered child-friendly urban planning. These examples showcase progress and innovations that are inspiring the creation of even more child-friendly cities globally.
Antwerp has developed 17 play networks since 2006. A play network (Flemish: speelwefsel) is a network of car-free or low-traffic bicycle and pedestrian paths connecting different play areas with so-called play signals. A child playing in a play network can meet other children and move freely without being exposed to risks from surrounding traffic flows.
The play webs in Antwerpen are created together with children and young people. The design process starts with intensive participatory meetings where children and young people are asked about their experiences of the neighbourhood’s streets and outdoor environments. Based on the input of both adults and children, desirable play streets are mapped out and a list of actions and policy proposals are developed to determine how they should be built, regulated and maintained.
You can find more information on play streets here.
Copenhagen is known for its child-friendly neighbourhoods where cycle paths have been designed for both safety and user-friendliness. In addition, city planners have integrated playful elements into the urban environment, such as public playgrounds and art installations that encourage activity and creativity.
Tokyo has undergone urban planning that focuses on creating safe walkways and streets for children. Public parks and green spaces are designed to be accessible and safe for play, and they often integrate educational components to promote learning and collaboration.
Vancouver has invested in green school zones that serve not only as playgrounds but also as community spaces. In addition, the city has invested in accessible public transport to help families and children travel safely and efficiently.
Bogotá has invested heavily in improving cycling infrastructure, including dedicated cycle lanes. The city also regularly organises public events where streets are closed to traffic and opened up for play and recreation for children and adults.
Read more about Bogotá’s initiatives here.
The ability for children to play everywhere was the central issue for urban planning in Vauban, an ‘ecodistrict’ on the outskirts of Freiburg, Germany. The district was designed to be virtually car-free. 40% of residents do not own a car and car parks were placed at the edge of the area. Most of the outdoor environment is green, child-friendly and playful, and the few roads in the neighbourhood have a speed limit of 5 km/h. With the large amount of green space available, there are no fixed playgrounds and play can take place anywhere. Sandpits, climbing rocks, swings and other play equipment are scattered throughout the neighbourhood. Once the boundaries between gardens, streets, parks and playgrounds are removed, children have a much greater choice of places where they can play. The idea behind this design approach is that play should be free and not controlled by adults. You can read more about Vauban here.
Here you can read about more inspiring examples of Child-Friendly Cities and initiatives from around the world.
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