Helen Woolley

Urban open spaces

Introduction to Urban Open Spaces Section 1: Urban Open Spaces - Benefits and Opportunities Introduction 1. Social Benefits and Opportunities 2. Health Benefits and Opportunities 3. Environmental Benefits and Opportunities 4. Economic Benefits and Opportunities Section 2: Urban Open Spaces - Spaces for All Introduction 5. Domestic Urban Open Spaces 6. Neighbourhood Urban Open Spaces 7. Civic Urban Open Spaces 8. A New Deal for Urban Open Spaces? Section 3: Urban Open Spaces - Case Studies Introduction 9. The Case Studies. Neighbourhoods and Recreational Open Spaces. Civic Urban Open Spaces

Skateboarding: The City as a Playground

Young people make a significant contribution to the economic and social vitality of city centres in the UK, yet others often frown upon their presence and activities. Skateboarders are a particular group of young people who make use of the urban fabric for their own activities. Why they use particular locations within a city centre is the question underlying the research reported in this paper. Following a series of small focus group discussions in three metropolitan cities in the UK the conclusion is drawn that the spaces young people choose to use afford opportunities for skateboarders because of their accessibility, sociability and compatibility, and the opportunities they offer for tricks.

Freedom of the city: Contemporary issues and policy influences on children and young people's use of public open space in England

Abstract Following a reflection of childhood experiences of public open spaces in daily life the paper moves on to a discussion about definitions of public open space. Contemporary policy related to children, young people and public open space in England are then identified. This context is addressed as policy which directly affects public open space and policy areas, drawn from other political drivers, which have an indirect influence on children and young peoples use of public open space. There is some reference to evidence which has fed into some of these policy areas. Teenagers who are skateboarders are used as an example of one group of young people who experience other—legal, social and physical—controls on their use of public open space.

Children describe their experiences of the city centre: a qualitative study of the fears and concerns which may limit their full participation

Abstract A large‐scale qualitative study of the views of British 10–12 years olds is reported. The focus is on childrens perceptions of their local urban centres, and in particular on the concerns and fears that they have about using the centres. It is argued that, in the context of the debate about such centres retaining business in the face of the challenge from out‐of‐town malls, designers should be more aware of the comparisons that such children draw between the two, not only for the current and future purchasing power of children, but also in the spirit of wider participation in the planning of our urban areas. Children of this age can give vivid accounts of their perceived threats, from some adults on the street, from older adolescents, and from groups from out of town. Children from the smaller towns more typically stress traffic as their major concern. Poor standards of maintenance may signal that no‐one cares. Agents of order, such as police, security guards and the presence of older people on ...

The child as citizen: Experiences of British town and city centres

The current state of town and city centres in the UK is a matter of growing concern for a range of professionals and politicians. In general, recent studies about town and city centres have not concentrated on the experiences of users and potential users. A 27‐month research project which investigated young peoples use and perception of their town and city centres in the UK was undertaken at the University of Sheffield. Over 2000 young people were involved with questionnaires and focus groups and this paper reports, from the qualitative work, on towns and the developing child, the developing civic identity, civic values, towns as resources and who the town is for, together with implications and conclusions from the work. Young people are significant users of their town and city centres and yet they feel that they will not be heard and their opinions not valued.

Don't Skate Here: Exclusion of Skateboarders from Urban Civic Spaces in Three Northern Cities in England

Skateboarders, who are predominantly young people, inhabit the fabric of urban conurbations in a way that no other group of open space users do. They have been identified as challenging capital norms, cultural forms and having a unique physical relationship with urban form. In city centres they choose to use specific civic spaces which provide opportunities for tricks. In some city centres skateboarders are excluded from using specific civic spaces by a series of social, legal and physical controls. This paper explores these issues in the context of three northern cities in England in order to develop a deeper understanding of the design approaches used to exclude skateboarders. Finally, the paper discusses the relationship between social, legal and physical controls to exclude skateboarders from specific civic spaces in these city centres.

Town centre management awareness: an aid to developing young people's citizenship

Abstract Young people have been identified as significant contributors to the social and economic fabric of town and city centres in the UK. This paper reports on how town centre managers inform young people about activities targeted towards them and how town centre managers think young people hear about events in their urban centre. The press, schools, radio, word of mouth and parents are all key elements of this system of communication. It is concluded that a progression of marketing and promotion which focuses on involving young people in their urban areas, not just informing them about activities, is a possible way forward in developing citizenship and for the future of our town and city centres.

Decreasing experiences of home range, outdoor spaces, activities and companions: changes across three generations in Sheffield in north England

Home range is commonly understood to be the distance from home that children are allowed to go in the outdoor environment with the term being used within various academic disciplines. Different factors influence childrens home range including traffic, age, parental fears and understandings of what it means to be a good parent. Research addressing home range over different generations has identified a context of changes in the built environment, demography and technology. This paper reports results from three generations of two families in Sheffield in the north of England and confirms a reduction in four major domains: home range, variety of outdoor spaces visited, range of activities undertaken and the number of companions.

Pakistani teenagers' use of public open space in Sheffield.

The use patterns by different ethnic groups of urban open spaces has been investigated, to some extent, in the United States of America, while less research has been undertaken in this area in the United Kingdom. Research was undertaken to investigate how the Pakistani community, the largest ethnic community in the city, uses open spaces in Sheffield, England. This paper draws upon the results of work undertaken with Pakistani teenagers in Sheffield but it is not a comparative study with the non-Pakistani community. These teenagers are significant users of public open space and enjoy a range of both active and passive activities. The local availability of such space is important. Other factors, contributing to comforts and discomforts, have been identified. It appears that some activities undertaken relate to age but further research is identified as being needed to confirm whether activities relate to ethnicity.

Children’s Play Environment after a Disaster: The Great East Japan Earthquake

The Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, together with the subsequent tsunami and nuclear power station accident, damaged a wide area of land. Children who experienced these terrible disasters and the post-disaster situation are still suffering in mental, physical and social ways. Children’s play is an activity that they undertake naturally and which can help them recover from such disasters. This paper addresses the role of play, adventure playgrounds and other play interventions, including play buses, for the health triangle, which addresses mental, physical and social issues of children after the disasters. These interventions were shown to be effective because children could express their stress. This included play for their mental health, different body movements for their physical health and communication with playworkers and new friends for restructuring their social health. These three aspects relate to and support each other within the health triangle. An increase in childhood obesity and lack of exercise is an additional health issue in Fukushima. For a balanced recovery within the health triangle, more play environments should be provided and some improved. A child’s right to play should be implemented in the recovery stage after a disaster.