Pathways for Play intentionally integrates play-critical for children’s health-into walkable, bikeable, shared use community pathway networks to provide opportunities for playing along the way and encourage use by children and families. PlayCore has partnered with the Natural Learning Initiative, College of Design, NC State University, to offer an educational resource designed to help professionals and community activists promote playful pathways across our nation. Pathways for Play provides best practice guidelines for upgrading existing systems or designing new systems that extend play value, encourage healthy lifestyles, offer fun learning opportunities, and promote meaningful and fun experiences for families outdoors!

  Learning Objectives:  

• Summarize the supportive research and benefits of playful pathways that encourage active lifestyles, extend play value, and engagement with nature for intergenerational users.

• Describe innovative ways to offer children and families opportunities to play along the way through planning play pockets and assessing pathway potential. 

• Explore case study examples of playful pathways and Play Trails that have added play value, opportunities for family engagement, and environmental learning through a unique project implementation process.

This program is developed in partnership with PlayCore and The Natural Learning Initiative, a research and design extension program of the College of Design, NC State University.

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