Street Play

Public Health have launched a step-by-step guide on how to organise your own community Street Play session in Doncaster.

What is Street Play?

Street play (or ‘playing out’ sessions) are neighbour-led short road closures, creating a safe space for children to play freely together on their doorstep. 

Street Play typically allow children to play freely in a safe space that is lead by their local community. This means children cycle, scoot, skate, chalk, skip, hopscotch, kick a ball around and make up games. They are joyous and active!

Street Play toolkit

Public Health have created a step-by-step guide to help you to organise your own community Street Play session in Doncaster. 

Street Play Toolkit

Street Play Toolkit

Street Play Toolkit
Download (1125KB - PDF)

Street Play Resources

We also have a series of other resources to help you plan and conduct your street play!

Street Play Q&A

Street Play Q&A

Street Play Q&A
Download (506KB - PDF)
Street Play Checklist

Street Play Checklist

Street Play Checklist
Download (515KB - PDF)
10 Good Reasons For Street Play

10 Good Reasons For Street Play

10 Good Reasons for Street Play
Download (1125KB - PDF)

 

Street Play Q&A

When organising your street play, you may have questions yourself about the benefits or enquiries from people on your street. You can you our Street Play Q&A to help answer these questions.

Why do children need to play in the street when there are parks nearby?

Parks are great for family outings and for older children who can get there independently but for younger children, it usually involves a special trip, organised, and supervised by adults is very different. Firstly, it is on the doorstep so children can play ‘semi-supervised’ and can come and go independently. Secondly, children playing together on their street helps to build a sense of community and belonging, which in turn makes your street a safer and friendlier place.

Why can’t children just play in their own back gardens?

In towns and cities, if you have a garden at all, the space is limited and the experience isolated. Street play is a way for children to meet other children on their street, who they may not come across normally (they may be at different schools or of different ages). It also provides more space and freedom to move. Big rope skipping, hopscotch, roller-skating, cycling, and scooting are all impossible to do in a tiny back garden.

Can I still have car access to my house?

Residents can still drive in and out during the session if they need to, just at walking speed to make it safe for everyone. You may find it is easier than normal to park on the street since there will be no through traffic. For those not living on the street, it will usually only mean a tiny addition to journey times. Most sessions only last an hour or two and take place before rush hour and at weekends.

Will you let visitors/deliveries through?

Yes. Stewards will ensure that all drivers wanting to drive down the road are aware that through traffic is not allowed but if a delivery needs to be made or someone is visiting, the steward will escort the driver at walking pace to their destination.

I have a business on the street. What about parking for my customers?

As part of the application process, everyone within the closure area should be consulted. If you are outside the closure area talk to the organisers about your concerns, in an open neighbourly way. There is usually a way around things if you really need access to parking for your customers, although please remember there is no right to parking on a public highway, even for residents. There is strong support for children’s right to play out amongst parents and grandparents, so you might even find that by being accommodating or offering support you improve your business image and get new customers.

Aren’t roads just for cars?

The idea that residential streets are just ‘roads’ i.e., places simply to drive and park cars has crept up on us gradually and has now become accepted. Up until the 1970s, street play was common. 71% of adults played out in the street or neighbourhood as children, compared to only 21% of children today. The street is our main public space in towns and cities and the place where a sense of community can be created. Playing out is partly about challenging the perception that streets are nothing but highways and demonstrating their possibilities as social spaces for everyone.

Why do you need to close the road?

Streets are much more traffic dominated and it is no longer normal to see children out playing as it used to be. Having to organise an official road closure to use the street in this way is not a long-term solution. In some very quiet streets children can and do still play out naturally. However, in many residential streets, cars – both parked and moving – dominate to such an extent that play becomes impossible. In this instance ‘playing out’ sessions provide a temporary solution and show what is possible. Ideally, our streets would be spaces where cars and people of all ages can coexist happily. This is the long-term goal of Street Play.

What if it rains?

All outdoor events are subject to the risk of bad weather. It can be a big disappointment if the weather puts people off. We have managed to carry on with sessions in the rain. It is really your call and whether adults are happy to stand around in it or not! If you do decide to carry on in bad weather, just be aware of any extra hazards, e.g., slippery roads and pavements.

Won’t playing out bring lots of children to my street from elsewhere?

Playing out is organised by residents and only publicised on their own street. It is a chance for children to play right outside their front doors and not a public ‘event.’ Streets are public spaces, but it is very unlikely that you would have more than a few ‘outsiders’ dropping in, as the main attraction is being able to play outside your own home.

I’m worried that the noise made by children playing outside will disturb me

Our experience is that streets are quieter during playing out sessions than when open to traffic. Some people would also say the sound of children playing is wonderful and something we no longer hear enough of. In towns and cities, we all need to live alongside each other and tolerate a reasonable amount of noise from other people’s activities. Even those who don’t drive have to live with traffic noise. Children cannot be contained within houses, cars and designated ‘play areas. The town or city is theirs too and it is their right to use public space. If there is a persistent problem with neighbours complaining about children making an unreasonable amount of noise, it may be appropriate to organise a street meeting to discuss and try to reach a solution everyone is happy with.

I’m worried about my car being damaged

If you are very nervous about damage to your car, you may wish to park it elsewhere during playing out sessions. However, we have heard of very few incidents of damage in the thousands of sessions that have taken place and would not expect the level of risk to be much greater than on a ‘normal’ day, with cars, cyclists and pedestrians passing through. Parents are responsible for their children during playing out sessions but any adult who sees a child causing damage should talk to them or their parents. The organisers and stewards will do their best to ensure that children play safely and responsibly.

Who is going to pay if my property gets damaged?

In terms of damage to property (including cars), the liability situation is no different with a road closure than under normal circumstances i.e., people take responsibility for their own actions. Parents will have ultimate responsibility for their own children and residents will need to resolve any issues between each other and their insurers.

I don’t like the idea of children playing unsupervised. Who will make sure they don’t get up to mischief?

It is made very clear that parents are responsible for their own children during sessions. But if any adult sees children playing out on the street seriously misbehaving or causing damage or injury, they should take responsibility to speak to them or their parents in a reasonable way.

Won’t it encourage children to think the road is a safe place to play under normal circumstances?

Other areas that have trialled Street Play have had many conversations with parents about this and there is a strong agreement that even young children can understand the difference between a playing out session and normal circumstances. There should be a clear signal that the road is ‘safe to play’ and parents will ensure children understand that things are ‘back to normal’ once the session is over. Street Play sessions are also a good opportunity for parents to talk to their children about road safety and the danger of traffic.

I haven’t got young children and this idea makes me feel excluded from my own street

Organisers should make sure that residents of all ages feel welcome to be out on the street and sessions don’t just feel like family events. Equally, no one should feel any obligation to ‘join in’ if they don’t want to. At some sessions, older residents or those without children have helped to steward or just enjoyed sitting out, meeting neighbours, and sharing memories about their own childhood play experiences.

What other benefits are there to Street Play?

As well as safer streets, another key factor in enabling street play is parental permission. Parents feel anxious about allowing children to play on the street for all sorts of reasons and often feel unsure about the cultural acceptability of letting kids play out on the street. Street Play sessions are a chance for parents to get together and support each other’s’ desire to let children play out.

 

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Last updated: 02 January 2024 10:04:52

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