Children's playgrounds for urban sustainability: (in)accessibility, (un)attractiveness and social (in)equity in Iași and Bacău municipalities (Romania)

Abstract

A central idea of the concept of sustainable development refers to intergenerational responsibility. Children's well-being should be one of the focal points of policy concerns and the spatial planning process. The fundamental right of children to play should be reflected by the arrangement of unique, accessible and attractive playgrounds where children can develop their physical, social and intellectual capacities. The present study is an exploratory analysis that aims to quantify the positional, structural and functional characteristics of children's playgrounds (CPs) in two important cities of the North-East Region -Iași and Bacău. The comparative evaluation is based on: 1) the identification of the local socio-demographic context; 2) the detailed field observation of the majority of existing playgrounds in the two cities; 3) making an inventory, the assessment and systematization of the essential aspects of this facilities from the viewpoint of accessibility, attractiveness and safety; 4) the critical analysis of the elements concerning the local policies in this field and 5) the attempt to offer some concrete solutions derived either from the reality in the field or from the models offered by the scientific literature. Two fundamental ideas emerge: on the one hand, the role of playgrounds to bring children closer to nature and movement, and on the other hand, the ability of playgrounds to become equitable, environmentally friendly community spaces, vectors of urban sustainability.