Developing a masterplan of play

During the development of a ‘masterplan of play’ with children for one of the city’s vulnerable neighbourhoods, the City of Regensburg identified a former army base in the area that would be made available for new development. At the behest of local young people, the city decided to turn it into a child-friendly green area for the whole community. The goal was to build an inclusive public park that is suitable for all, has a positive impact on the climate, flora and fauna, is built in a sustainable way and can be accessed easily by all. As the park was located near a school for children with disabilities and an inclusive housing project, accessibility for people with disabilities was considered a priority. The city, together with the landscape architects planning the park, organized three workshops to engage children and young people in the development of the park: one at a local school targeting children from Grades 5 to 10, including a class of newly arrived refugees; one at a local after school care facility targeting younger children and a third school for children with disabilities. Special support was provided to support children with disabilities in verbalizing their needs. Final playground plans were finalized following children’s inputs and wishes. The final playground was tested by the local child and youth council, with the aim of ensuring it was accessible to children with restricted mobility. The park has already won the Deutscher Spielraumpreis (German Play Space Award) for its inclusive, sustainable and child-friendly design. The park is easily accessible by bike and public transport and offers access to green areas in a neighbourhood where many children had limited access to outdoor play.