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Pathways for Play®

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Best Practice Design Guides

Pathways for Play®

Playful Trails Green Schoolyards Nature Play

PlayCore has partnered with the Natural Learning Initiative, College of Design, NC State University to offer an educational resource designed to help professional and community activists promote playful trails and greenways across our nation. The partnership also included collaborations with Advisory Committee of experts from American Trails. Pathways for Play intentionally integrates play into community pathway networks to provide opportunities for playing along the way and encourage use by children and families.

A scenery of a paved walkway going past a playground that has a red dragonfly which people are able to ride on >
Two children looking at a sign that discusses bees. Two elderly people stand behind the children and look at the sign as well >
A group of children and adults walking down a shaded trail from a playground set >

The Science

In the last 40 years, the number of children and adolescents in the United States walking or bicycling to or from school has dropped from approximately half to fewer than 15%. Innovative pathway designs infused with play is a paradigm change that could increase children's walking and biking habits by offering a network of intriguing linear play environments connecting children's homes to playgrounds and other meaningful, daily life destinations. To create this guidebook, supporting research was gathered on spontaneous play, family interaction in the outdoors, traffic issues, independent mobility, contact with nature, and adult/child interaction. This data was used to develop a set of benefits for playful pathways, supported and implied by the research, including health promotion, inclusion, environmental literacy, connectivity, and social capital. Since this combination of benefits may not be achieved by other means, Pathways for Play creates a new approach in outdoor recreation for the family.

A shaded shelter area with a wood bridge going up to it. This shelter also overlooks at field >
People exercising on a paved walkway as a middle-aged lady and child play on a seesaw beside the people walking >

Why Request Pathways for Play?

This educational resource is designed to help professional and community activists promote playful trails and greenways across our nation by  integrating play into walkable, bikeable, shared use community pathway networks infused with "play pockets" providing opportunities for playing along the way. It describes ways to combine historical elements, built play equipment, and natural materials in fun pockets of activity, then space these pockets along a trail, designed with curving paths to disguise the next activity and create an element of mystery and discovery. Playful exhibits stationed along the trail increase the usage of pathways and trails by using familiar behaviors while teaching facts about the environment in a friendly, non-formal way. Pathways designed with us using these best practice guidelines are eligible for National Demonstration Site status. 

Contributing Partners

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The guide was developed in partnership with The Natural Learning Initiative (NLI),  a research and design assistance program of the College of Design of North Carolina State University. Their purpose is to promote the natural environment in the daily experience of all children and families through environmental design, action research, education, and dissemination of information.The partnership also included collaborations with an Advisory Committee of experts from American Trails. 

Contributing Scholars

Our Scholar Network
Nilda cosco

Nilda Cosco, PhD

North Carolina State University Research Professor and Director of Programs; Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning and Nature Learning Institute
Marybeth lima

Marybeth Lima, PhD

Louisiana State University Chair; Department of Biology and Agricultural Engineering
Robinmoore cmyk

Robin Moore, Dipl Arch, MCP, ASLA

North Carolina State University Professor Emeritus; College of Design
Russ carson

Russell Carson, PhD

Consultant

Program Request

Fill out the form below to request your copy of Pathways for Play®