Adventure Playgrounds

Keith A. Cranwell

An adventure playground is a nonasphalted, fenced-off area containing a play hut for indoor recreation and natural areas for the construction of play structures, which might include rope swings, slides, water play, and dens. The requirements for an adventure playground include provision of tools (e.g., hammers, spades, saws, chisels, screwdrivers, and axes) and materials (wood, nails, rope, bricks, and other building material) children can use to explore new play opportunities or change their activities. Two features distinguish the adventure playground from other types of playgrounds. First, adventure playgrounds employ paid, trained play workers who facilitate children's free play. Second, the workers are instrumental in guiding the construction of self-build playground structures in consultation with children rather than buying-in manufactured fixed play equipment. The adventure playground was described as a location where children could experiment in their play through being free to dig in the earth, build dens from wood and ...

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