Reimagining spaces where children play: developing guidance for thermally comfortable playgrounds in Canada

Abstract

Setting Planning and designing thermally comfortable outdoor spaces is increasingly important in the context of climate change, particularly as children are more vulnerable than adults to environmental extremes. However, existing playground standards focus on equipment and surfacing to reduce acute injuries, with no mention of potential negative health consequences related to heat illness, sun exposure, and other thermal extremes. The goal of this project was to develop proposed guidelines for designing thermally comfortable playgrounds in Canada for inclusion within the CAN/CSA-Z614 Children’s playground equipment and surfacing standard. Intervention The project to develop guidance for thermally comfortable playgrounds was initiated with a municipal project in Windsor, Ontario, to increase shade, vegetation, and water features at parks and playgrounds to provide more comfortable experiences amid the increased frequency of hot days (≥30°C). The lack of available information to best manage environmental conditions led to a collaborative effort to build resources and raise awareness of best practices in the design of thermally comfortable playgrounds. Outcomes A group of multidisciplinary experts developed technical guidance for improving thermal comfort at playgrounds, including a six-page thermal comfort annex adopted within a national playground and equipment standard. The annex has been used by Canadian schools in a competition to design and implement green playgrounds. Implications Both the technical report and the thermal comfort annex provide increased awareness and needed guidance for managing environmental conditions at playgrounds. Thermally safe and comfortable play spaces will help ensure that Canada’s playgrounds are designed to minimize environmental health risks for children.

Outdoor Cold Stress and Cold Risk for Children during Winter: A Study in China’s Severe Cold Regions

“…Mahé et al [28] explored the risk of ultraviolet radiation-induced skin damage during outdoor sports and recommended that children take appropriate sun protection measures. Kennedy et al [29] developed guidelines for thermal comfort on Canadian playgrounds. The results suggest that thermally safe and comfortable playgrounds minimize environmental health risks for children.…”

A Comparative Analysis of Outdoor Thermal Comfort Indicators Applied in China and Other Countries

“…Regarding age, studies have indicated that the elderly have poorer adaptation to changes in thermal environments, particularly during cold spells [260] or heatwaves [261]. Additionally, children are more vulnerable to the impact of extreme climate conditions outdoors compared to adults [262]. For people with disabilities, individuals with physical impairments may have different heat adaptation responses under extreme climate conditions compared to those without disabilities.…”

The Playground Shade Index: A New Design Metric for Measuring Shade and Seasonal Ultraviolet Protection Characteristics of Parks and Playgrounds

“…Ideally, it should also facilitate accurate shade design specific to a given location. Such a tool can be valuable to designers in building new or retrofitting playgrounds, as sun and heat protection are often overlooked, yet are important design aspects of such areas (20).…”

“…Playgrounds within a parkland are environments exposed to the sun at all times of the year. They can therefore place visitors at risk of thermal stress and excessive sun exposure (10). Shading provided by trees, vegetation and physical shade structures is important (2,8,11), as behaviors when young (12) influence lifetime exposure patterns to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation; that in turn contributes to the development of harmful skin and eye disease (13).…”