Posts tagged Playgrounds
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Four urban design rules to make children’s playgrounds fun for…parents?
The first post in this series looked at what makes a great playground for kids. You know who else spends a lot of time in those spaces? Parents. In part two, we’re talking about what features appeal most directly to parents and other caregivers in playgrounds. Keep reading…
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Three urban design rules to make playgrounds fun for kids
Playgrounds are great…but many can be greater. Choices and diverse play options can dramatically change how kids experience designated play spaces. Keep reading…
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Newell Street in Silver Spring is closed to cars — but for how long?
In September, Montgomery County got its first “playstreet” when the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) closed down one block of Newell Street, and effectively doubled the size of a small park near Silver Spring’s Metro station. Now, residents who have loved riding bikes, eating picnics, and walking their dogs in the expanded open space are afraid it may be taken away. Keep reading…
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Columbia Heights has a transit-themed playground
Nerd alert: One of DC’s old trolley turnarounds is now a transit-themed playground. Keep reading…
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Events: Learn how a historic, discriminatory housing policy shapes Baltimore today
Find out how redlining has impacted Baltimore residents. Dig into DC’s history of Black power. Learn how global communities are making space for commuters, and more in this week’s urbanist events. Keep reading…
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Playgrounds don’t have to be for children only. Adults benefit from spaces to play, too.
While we do have a few options for adult play, they have limitations. Public playgrounds, however, are usually more accessible, free, and open to the public. So if more playgrounds were intentionally designed for all ages, we would expand who can benefit from them while providing new opportunities for how we design and use public space. Keep reading…
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Many of DC’s playground surfaces contain lead. How dangerous is this, and what should be done?
There is lead — according to four DC agencies, reaching “actionable levels” — on the surfaces of at least 17 DC playgrounds. This, understandably, has alarmed many parents and residents already concerned about reports about lead on play surfaces that come from rubber. It’s unfortunately also difficult to find clear science telling us exactly how much of a danger this poses. Keep reading…
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Columbia Heights has a transit-themed playground
Nerd alert: One of DC’s old trolley turnarounds is now a transit-themed playground. Keep reading…
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NE DC is turning vacant parking lots into playing fields, thanks to these parents
Some families in Northeast DC couldn’t finding a field nearby, so they found some vacant parking lots nearby and drew up plans for a place for kids to play. After years of work, those parking lots are getting turned into something even grander than neighborhood advocates initially dreamt. Keep reading…
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Spray parks, the giant water fountains kids play in, will stay open longer in DC
DC has 24 “spray parks,” which are basically playgrounds with fountains that spray water all over kids while they play. Up until now, they’ve been programmed to stop functioning at 7 pm even though parks stay open until dark. But starting this Friday, the District is going to keep the water flowing until 8:30 each night. Keep reading…