Most public playgrounds are typically an allocated space within a neighbourhood area sometimes demarcated by a fence or some other kind of boundary. Such a space implies that in order to play children must come ‘to this space’ and all the playing that then happens is expected to take place within that boundary.
Such a concept is a common cause of friction between children making use of their broader environment for playing and adults who feel playing should only take place within this specific allocated space.
A linear playground is very different. Rather than the declared boundary of the space being the limitation of playing, a linear playground is designed along a route that children and young people are known to frequent, such as a route to and from school, for example.
Playground equipment and other play features, such as sand pits, enclosed ball games areas (also known as MUGAs – multi use games areas), single basketball hoops, balance features, and communal sitting places etc, are placed along this route rather than being gathered together and surrounded by a fence.
This results in children playing in a way that is more reflective of how children play in general when moving around their neighbourhoods.
See also Free Movement, and Marketta Kytta (to come).
