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Participatory Schoolyard Design for Health and Well-Being: Policies that Support Play in Urban Green Spaces

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Book cover Risk, Protection, Provision and Policy

Part of the book series: Geographies of Children and Young People ((GCYP,volume 12))

Abstract

Informal play in nature is fundamental to children’s health and well-being, providing physical, social, and psychological benefits. Yet children in urban environments frequently lack access to natural spaces for free play. Participatory planning similarly is important across many domains in contributing to children’s well-being. This chapter reviews the benefits and threats to children’s informal play in nature in cities today. It then examines the role of green schoolyards as one means of providing opportunities for such play. Finally, it explores a case study of a participatory planning and design process to expand nature play opportunities in a schoolyard and adjacent park in Boulder, Colorado, USA. Interviews with professionals involved in the project are used to identify themes, programs, and policies at municipal, state, and international levels that promote children’s informal play in urban green spaces.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Program in Environmental Design, University of Colorado Boulder, 1060 18th Street UCB 314, Boulder, CO, 80309-0314, USA

    Victoria L. Derr

  2. Department of Urban Studies and Planning, California State University, Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Los Angeles, CA, CA 91330, USA

    Alessandro Rigolon

Authors
  1. Victoria L. Derr
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  2. Alessandro Rigolon
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Correspondence to Victoria L. Derr .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Claire Freeman

  2. School of Physical, Environmental and Ma, University of New South Wales Canberra, Canberra BC, Australia

    Paul Tranter

  3. Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Tracey Skelton

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Derr, V.L., Rigolon, A. (2017). Participatory Schoolyard Design for Health and Well-Being: Policies that Support Play in Urban Green Spaces. In: Freeman, C., Tranter, P., Skelton, T. (eds) Risk, Protection, Provision and Policy. Geographies of Children and Young People, vol 12. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-035-3_21

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