Towards a gently radical revolution…
Over the past few months a group of 12 residents from across Shipley, West Yorkshire have been meeting together to plot. Not to overthrow the status quo, but almost.
We set up Play Street Pioneers because actually closing a road to traffic (even for a few hours) is a radical act. Making safe space on our streets for children to play on their doorsteps, for older people to chat and parents to watch on and connect is gently radical. We have become so immune to the idea that our street space could be used for anything other than space to keep and move vehicles around the idea of using it for anything is quite a leap, especially for those living on popular rat runs.
Playing out on Jane Street, Bradford
When promoting this part learning journey, part peer support group pilot programme to parents at my local playgroup I was met with lots of people interested in the idea who also said — “Oh I’d love to do this but I live on a rat run, so I can’t”. A parent’s deep desire to create a safe space for their child and other children on their street to play, something we know has huge benefits in terms of child development, independence, physical activity, sense of belonging whilst bringing a huge number of co-benefits for the wider community, is somehow automatically de-prioritised, so someone can speed from A to B on a quicker route.
Now I know that someone getting from A to B is not the enemy. We live (in the North) with a public transport system sadly not fit for (all) purposes so too often the only viable option is to drive and why not drive the most direct route? No-one is reducing children’s rights and access to doorstep play on purpose.. children are just the silent (in this case) victims of the way we live now. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Turning your street into a play street for a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon through the summer provides an incredible blank canvas for children to spread their wings and socialise with their neighbours. Any residents wanting vehicular access to and from their house are simply walked by stewards through the closure whilst play pauses. Everyone can still get where they need to be.
But here’s the thing. Despite Bradford Council making some fantastic changes to their policy, making it a simple and easy process to apply for a temporary road closure — the idea of setting up and running a play street is pretty much an alien concept for most people.
Promotional content to recruit our first Play Street Pioneers!
That’s why Play Street Pioneers exists. A support system, some accountability, a group of neighbourhood cheerleaders to remind you to have that chat with your neighbours as you’re taking out the bins, inspire you to set up that whats app group poll to choose play street dates, a laminator to borrow to weatherproof the poster and a shared Canva template to make getting the word out just a little bit simpler. We’ve only just started but it’s already been a joy to curate and connect this crew of aspiring community leaders.. who knows where this first step of active citizenship will lead to?
Imagine being connected to a local crew of people who dream like you of doorstep play for your children and wider community, but you are supported to make it happen this summer. It is gentle, but also radical.
Play Street Pioneers is a pilot programme led by Street Space and supported in Shipley by Shipley Town Council. Need this in your area? Get in touch.