Playgrounds in Heerlen to be refreshed or redesigned
The College of Mayor and Aldermen of the Municipality of Heerlen has adopted the updated play space policy. With the policy update, they are committed to playful, green and inviting environments that encourage children to play outside.
Alderman Marco Peters (Management and Maintenance) explains:
"As the municipality of Heerlen, we believe that every child should have the space to play, discover and move. In his or her own neighborhood. Therefore, together with our residents, we enthusiastically set to work on improving our playgrounds. Especially because together we want to build fine neighborhoods with attractive playgrounds that suit the children and families who live there. When children can play, the whole city grows!"
Survey of all playgrounds
All 172 playgrounds in the municipality were examined. We looked not only at the condition of the play equipment, but also at what makes a playground attractive. Shaded areas that help cool down in hot summers, accessible play locations for all children, more natural materials, smart design and connection with the neighborhood.
The research shows that 55 spots need a refresh with simple adjustments such as greening and 48 spots require redevelopment. By letting the composition of the neighborhood and the residents choose from several options, we ensure that the spots will match the age and taste of the children living in the neighborhood.
Combining investments with other tasks
Through the investments, the municipality wants to combine the redevelopment of play facilities with other important municipal tasks. These include strengthening places where the social impact is highest and greening where there are currently many stones.