Making Space for the Entire Community

One of the Play Commission's goals--and one of the elements in this year's Action Plan--is to create gathering places for the entire community that offer areas and activities engaging for multiple generations and areas of interest. Most of Columbia's playspaces are tot lots or play structures designed with only the youngest kids in mind, lacking elements that attract older children or other members of the community.

A recent blog post by Bethe Almeras (DIY Online Community/Communications Manager for KaBOOM!) defines a true community space like this:

[It] should entice folks to stop by throughout the day and evening (prior to closing time), and be a space where people spend extended periods of time engaged in play and social interaction--not simply a quick stop to get the kids out of the house for a few minutes.

Beth continues with some concrete (in some cases, perhaps literally) examples of improvements that help community spaces more closely match the aforementioned goal:

• An asphalt game area for Hopscotch, Four Square, and more;
• A community or children’s garden;
• Benches and conversation pits for parents/grandparents, book clubs, senior citizens social groups, and gardening clubs to meet;
• Tables with checker & chessboard tops;
• A bulletin board for people to announce upcoming special events, clean-up days, etc.;
• A basketball court (can be used for other old-school playground games, too!);
• A shade structure to give folks a place to cool off.