The Power of Urban Play: Unleashing the role of play environments as community assets

Play is critical for the healthy development of all children; however, historically many children in urban areas face barriers and disparities for play. In this seminar you will learn about the concepts outlined in the national report developed with the expertise of over 40 urban park and recreation leaders. This interactive session will help you understand the important role play has in urban communities, define the trends and unique characteristics of urban playgrounds, and recognize the best practice strategies for developing and maintaining wholesome play environments as community assets.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe current research, trends, and the unique needs of urban communities

• Discuss what urban park and recreation leaders are saying about play, important initiatives, and best practices for developing and maintaining wholesome play environments

• Define the five best practices themes for play in urban communities to help develop next steps and recommendation for your agency

• Identify steps to creating an urban playground master plan for assessing lifecycle assets and prioritizing replacement needs

"The speaker was highly knowledgeable and encouraged interactive discussion." - Outreach Participant