Sunday Street Play
Design Feature
Type of project
Local Government Initiative
State
South Australia
Location
Urban
The Sunday Street Play project was initiated by the Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle (OPAL) team at Campbelltown City Council, and involves closing local streets to traffic for two hours on a Sunday to allow for safe outdoor play. This project was the first of its kind in South Australia and has encouraged local residents to participate in the outdoors, meet their neighbours and engage safely in active play. The project aims to empower community members to play a volunteer leadership role where they can champion their own Sunday Street Play events. Resources have been developed to facilitate this process, and systems are in place within council to enable efficient approval of requests. The Council has a dedicated staff member to support this community-led program, to manage identified risks, and to promote the program and encourage its uptake.
Campbelltown City Council were inspired by presentations from placemaking expert David Engwicht of Creative Communities International, and leading Rethinking Childhood advocate Tim Gill. Both speakers challenged the 21st Century ‘norm’ of children and families retreating inside or to their backyards and the lost opportunities for outdoor play and to connect face to face with neighbours or friends nearby.
Since 2013, Campbelltown City Council has held 12 Sunday Street Play events that have been attended by more than 700 residents in the Adelaide suburbs of Campbelltown, Hectorville, Magill, Newton, Rostrevor and Tranmere. The longer-term aim of the project was for local residents to embrace the scheme and organise their own street play sessions. This has already begun, with the last two events being community-led rather than Council-led.
A series of resources have been developed to assist and encourage community members to organise their own street play events. This includes an information pack, application form for street closure, invitation templates and posters to promote the event to neighbours. A ‘toolkit’ was also developed and includes equipment such as skipping ropes, bouncing balls, large skittles and colourful chalk which can be loaned for Sunday Street Play events. However, play activities on the street are generally not structured and children are encouraged to bring their own play equipment.
Since 2013, Campbelltown City Council has held 12 Sunday Street Play events that have been attended by more than 700 residents in the Adelaide suburbs of Campbelltown, Hectorville, Magill, Newton, Rostrevor and Tranmere. The longer-term aim of the project was for local residents to embrace the scheme and organise their own street play sessions. This has already begun, with the last two events being community-led rather than Council-led.
Children play safely in the closed streets.
The events have helped to create a sense of place, community cohesion, and wellbeing.
The events have helped to create a sense of place, community cohesion, and wellbeing.
“I’ve seen a few Mums at the school during the week and they loved it. The kids said they want to do it again. No one had a bad word to say; in fact, I think it made our street a bit more connected.” - Tammie, local resident street play coordinator.
It is anticipated that the positive experiences and outcomes will influence parents to improve access to outdoor play for children and improve government's policy response if community demand increases. This project has addressed common themes raised by parents and grandparents that while they love the parks, creeks and trails, they did not let their children enjoy them on their own for safety reasons.
Campbelltown City Council has risen to the challenge of supporting play beyond the traditional playground. They have become an advocate for approaches that can be taken to support children and young people by creating and promoting spaces for play. Campbelltown City Council has become one of the first communities in Australia to receive Bronze Recognition by UNICEF Australia, demonstrating an active commitment to become more child-friendly. Child Friendly Cities is an initiative promoted by UNICEF that aims to realise the Convention on the Rights of the Child at the local level.
The project is a small step for residents, and a giant step for Council who have accepted the perceived risks, and agreed to temporarily stop traffic in their streets for the health of their community.
Campbelltown City Council has risen to the challenge of supporting play beyond the traditional playground. They have become an advocate for approaches that can be taken to support children and young people by creating and promoting spaces for play. Campbelltown City Council has become one of the first communities in Australia to receive Bronze Recognition by UNICEF Australia, demonstrating an active commitment to become more child-friendly. Child Friendly Cities is an initiative promoted by UNICEF that aims to realise the Convention on the Rights of the Child at the local level.
The project is a small step for residents, and a giant step for Council who have accepted the perceived risks, and agreed to temporarily stop traffic in their streets for the health of their community.
Project team
- Campbelltown City Council, OPAL team
Project Cost
Unavailable
Health value
The diverse, outdoor play opportunities may have physical, mental and social health benefits for those who engage in the project.
Economic value
Low cost, resident-led initiative, that will be sustainable after the OPAL project has finished.
Environmental value
Traffic-free street play reduces the impact of air and noise pollution on children while playing.
Social value
The program has the potential to improve children’s independent mobility skills.
International guest speakers provided valuable skills to community leaders on the trends, benefits and importance of children’s outdoor play.
The project encourages community engagement and mobilisation to deliver activities in the area.
The project encourages community connections and community safety.
International guest speakers provided valuable skills to community leaders on the trends, benefits and importance of children’s outdoor play.
The project encourages community engagement and mobilisation to deliver activities in the area.
The project encourages community connections and community safety.
Use value
The program has provided an opportunity for residents to engage with each other and to provide a family-friendly, safe and accessible community space for socialising and active play.
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