Children & Parks / Nature & Cities
Cecilia Vaca-Jones, Sarah Milligan Toffler, Tim Gill

Key Takeaways

• • Physical form and social shifts have confined today’s eight-year-olds to a 100-meter radius, compared to approximately 6 miles in the 1900s.
  • Medium-high density, car-free streets, built-in play elements, pocket parks, and 4-minute transit to the city center create both freedom and richness of activity.

Summary

1. 1. What is child-friendly urban planning?
      
      •  a rich “things to do” ecology (play, nature, services), and 
      • safe, independent mobility (walking/cycling) for children.
   2. A Child-friendly Champion in city government is a must to convene planning, transport, parks, education and health sectors. Further, s/he must embed child‑friendliness in policy, co‑design with kids, and measure outcomes.
   3. Nature-Play Integration:
      
      • Most children are not experiencing nature because they do not have access to ‘safe’ nature.
      • Cities like Austin, Chicago, Milwaukee, Arizona, etc., are converting streets, schoolyards and brownfields into nature-play spaces by adding boulders, logs, and stormwater features, boosting unstructured, child-directed play.
   4. The needs of children and caregivers are different from any other user in cities. Factors that make it a better city for young children:
      
      • Public Space: streets, parks, sidewalks, plazas, and playgrounds which are safe, accessible, comfortable, and stimulating for babies, toddlers, and their caregivers.
      • Mobility: safe, convenient, affordable, and sustainable ways (including walking, cycling, public or informal transit) for caregivers with young children to reach their destinations.
      • Neighbourhood planning: easy access to key services within a short, affordable journey; a vibrant, supportive community; and a comfortable environment for young children and caregivers.
   5. Cross-Sector “Hub-and-Spoke:
      
      • Scaling up requires a dedicated municipal catalyst (child-friendly czar), cross-departmental collaboration (planning, transport, parks, education, water), and community/child co-design.
      • Target the most underserved neighbourhoods (Tirana’s playgrounds and orbiting forest, Tel Aviv’s pocket parks, Lima’s tactical street conversions, Indian Anganwadi centers) to close access gaps.

How can Cities apply these learnings?

1. 1. In each district, score “Things to Do” (nature, play, services) vs. “Mobility” (safe walk/cycle). Prioritize zones in the high-high quadrant.
   2. Convert low-use streets, vacant lots or schoolyards into nature-play areas with logs, boulders, rain gardens, and partner with water/forestry departments.
   3. Embed participatory workshops; run school-yard design charrettes; involve kids in park planning and street closures.

Ideas for further reading

1. 1. Urban Playground: How Child-Friendly Planning and Design Can Save Cities – Book by Tim Gill
   2. Research Digest – Children & Nature Network. https://www.childrenandnature.org/resources/type/research-digest/ 
   3. Early Childhood Matters – by Van Leer Foundation. https://vanleerfoundation.org/publications-reports/early-childhood-matters-2023/