What is Play Pathfinder?
In 2008, The London Borough of Hackney was awarded £2.6 million over 3 years by the Department of Children, Schools, and Families (DCSF) to upgrade four of its adventure playgrounds and to develop 28 public play spaces across the borough. The Play Pathfinder will be contributing an average of £50,000 to each play space and is being matched by other funding sources at some sites, including both planning contributions and LBH Parks. The Learning Trust is delivering this scheme on behalf of the Council.

Phase 1 of the Pathfinder (March 2008 to March 2009) has seen the improvement of 12 play spaces around Hackney. Phase 2 of the Pathfinder (March 2009 to March 2010) will see a minimum of 16 improved and new play areas throughout the borough.

Where are they?
This is where the new sites are located and where new play areas are being currently designed and built.

Inclusion
This is how we are involving disabled children and young people in the design process

General Design Principles
These are some of the design principles about play, which have used in the play areas.

Why are we investing in play?
Play is an important part of every child’s development and essential both to their health and happiness. The DCSF programme is part of central government’s agenda, recently highlighted in its Children’s Plan, to improve play opportunities for children and young people. This is to ensure children enjoy their childhood. This has also been reflected in the Hackney Play Strategy 2007 – 2012, where objectives include improving the access that local children have to new and improved play environments.

Pathfinder playgrounds will be better playgrounds
We want the Pathfinder playgrounds to be more innovative, exciting and interesting than the average playgrounds in the borough. We want challenging equipment for a variety of ages with a focus on natural features such as water, rocks and landscaping, as well as areas where children and young people can relax. The design guidelines will be based on Play England’s guide Design for Play. This guide sets out a new approach to creating successful play spaces that we want to promote in Hackney. There are also guidelines around introducing more challenges into play and managing the risks, which have been key to transforming play opportunities which are designed into these play areas.

For further information please contact the Play Pathfinder team:

Daniel.Fitzpatrick@learningtrust.co.uk
Matt.Davies@learningtrust.co.uk

Or write to us at:

Childcare and Play
The Learning Trust
1 Reading Lane
Hackney
London, E8 1GQ