Active Playful Parks

Our insight shows children want access to fun, informal activities near where they live, including play and exploring outdoors. JU:MP has therefore committed to creating active, playful parks and greenspaces in local neighbourhoods, activating these spaces through the JU:MP Connector programme, sports, cycling and an extensive Mobile Adventure Play programme.

JU:MP commissioned Play Bradford to activate the parks with mobile adventure play to help create an active ethos and reduce the risk of antisocial behaviour. Cycle hubs, fun days and holiday sports activities in the parks also helped to create a family friendly ethos in our greenspace. Mobile Adventure Play workers have successfully engaged large numbers of children and families in local parks and we are learning more about how play provision can help reduce antisocial behaviour and create a culture of playing out that is sustainable and increases physical activity levels of children. Wider research shows adventure play can encourage children to be more active and can increase overall strength and stamina; critical elements to keeping children fit and healthy.

We have also invested in a Cycle Hub in Peel Park; developed by British Cycling and Hop On it is a thriving hub of activity, with its own container of bikes. The Cycle Hub is now run by Hop On,  a cycle project run by South Asian women which engages hundreds of families from the local primarily South Asian community with growing numbers of local female volunteers. While challenges of anti-social behaviour and quad bikes continue in our socio economically disadvantaged areas, these programmes along with Fun Days and holiday activities are showing promise in creating active, playful parks.