Making playful use of public spaces

Encouraging people to be more playful and giving public spaces more playability is Lesley McIntosh’s responsibility.

She is Council’s Play Advocate, a new role funded by Sport New Zealand for two years, to make play a possibility everywhere. She is one of 18 play advocates around the country.

Play encourages the whole community to participate, improves social and cultural connectivity, creates economic opportunities and increases environmental awareness.

“We’re talking about not isolating play to small areas or playgrounds,” said Lesley.

“This is about making more spaces playable - for example if we’re redesigning a footpath outside a school or upgrading a streetscape let’s look for the accessibility and play opportunities. It may be something as simple as a seat that can be utilised for play or a picnic table that you can play ping pong on.”

“Increasing playability could involve talking to the landscaping team and making use of trees they are cutting down or planting grassy areas with wildflowers. The possibilities are only limited by our imagination.”

Lesley said play was a right for all children but was inter-generational and making it an opportunity in open spaces served the whole community.

“I’ll be advocating for play in the wider aspects and looking at how it links - it’s about thinking outside the square,” she said.

Lesley will look at areas in Marlborough that could benefit from having play incorporated including waterways, streets and parks while acknowledging those areas which already have play facilities.

“I’ll be ensuring the lens is put on everything to see how the whole community can benefit,” she said. “Play is an emotional currency and there is a knock-on impact on our wellbeing.”

Lesley was previously General Manager at Sport Tasman.