Add another one to the great big board of "Urban Planning Debates: Academic Research vs. Some Guy"

Two very helpful reviews of two recent urbanism books - Dinah Bornat's All to Play For and the edited collection Messy Cities - with links to more ideas and reading, from @gerbenhelleman.bsky.social.

urbanspringtime.blogspot.com/2025/12/how-...

urbanspringtime.blogspot.com/2026/01/mess...

Wearing a black T-shirt with a design featuring two columns. On the left: Things Kids Have Sacrificed For Drivers -Playing on their street -Safe school streets -Walking to school -Bking/Rolling to school -Random play -Crossing the street -Playing outside at night -Independence -Freedom -Quality street life -Air quality -A planet -Their lives On the right: Things Drivers Have Sacrificed For Kids

*taps the @tomflood.bsky.social t-shirt*

The city of #Delft in the #Netherlands once had a city wall with eight city gates, only one of which remains: 'Oostpoort' (East gate). Built around 1400.
#streetphotography #urbanphotography #publicspace #humansofbluesky #heritage

Something like this...
#shitplanning #publicspace #urbanism

Heads Up!

A red “Do Not Enter” traffic sign has been altered with black stick-figure drawings, turning the white horizontal bar into a bar counter. Three figures lean and sit as if socializing at a bar, one perched on a stool holding a cocktail glass, creating a playful street art intervention that transforms a prohibition sign into a scene of nightlife humor. Artist unknown, location unknown.

Happy New Year 🍾🥂

New Year, New Me (10 Photos): streetartutopia.com/2025/12/31/n...

'Out of the Cage' by Studio Giftig in #Hasselt ( #Belgium) The double #mural symbolizes breaking free from captivity and gaining inner freedom.
#streetart #Belgie #streetphotography #humansofbluesky #urbanphotography #publicspace

Why kids need to take more risks: science reveals the benefits of wild, free play Studies reveal how risky play can benefit child development. But encouraging it can be a challenge for parents.

"The benefits [of risky play for children] are so broad in terms of social, physical, mental development and mental health, I don’t think we can underestimate the value"

go.nature.com/3Yfyv9r

How to design a play-friendly living environment Civil servants, project developers, and urban planners involved in housing construction often find themselves embroiled in debates about bal...

In the book ‘All to play for' several ingredients are presented to help create a more #playfriendly and #childfriendly environment near residential complexes. A summary/review: urbanspringtime.blogspot.com/2025/12/how-...
#outdoorplay #publicspace #architecture #cities #urbanism #placemaking #play

And if there are no seats, we use alternatives...
#Hasselt #Belgie #publicspace #seating #streetphotography #urbanphotography #humansofbluesky #citiesforpeople #urbanism #placemaking

Seating in #Hasselt (Belgium). With and without back support.
#publicspace #urbanism
#urbanphotography #streetphotography
#realhumansofbluesky

Is your neighbourhood playable? New website breaks it down - UBC News UBC researchers have created Canada’s first playability index, revealing how neighbourhoods support—or hinder—children’s outdoor play. Explore what makes a city playable and why urban planners need to...

Is your neighbourhood playable? New website breaks it down news.ubc.ca/2025/12/is-y... | Interview with Dr. Emily Gemmell @ubcpublichealth.bsky.social via UBC News

Designing cities for play: Why child-friendly spaces matter Children are the benchmark of an area's liveability. They tell us whether it is healthy and inclusive. If it does not work for them, it is failing, writes Lendlease's Nick Watson

Children are the best test of liveability. Their visibility in #publicspaces signals not only their own wellbeing but the health of the wider environment. They bring vibrancy and life to our streets and squares, writes Nick Watson.
#outdoorplay
www.bdonline.co.uk/opinion/desi...

The perils of a car-centric design. Cars stay dry but pedestrians get wet.

#dohamall #qatar

'The Gilded Lady' by Tristan Eaton in #NewYork. It pays tribute to the history of the NoMad neighborhood, esp. the Gilded Age(1880-1920). The face is that of Evelyn Nesbit;a famous model and chorus girl of the era. The longer you look, the more you see #streetart #urbanphotography #streetphotography

Great article from @jonathanhaidt.bsky.social in @theatlantic.com: "Children want to meet up in person, no screens or supervision. But because so many parents restrict their ability to socialize in the real world on their own, #kids resort to [...] their phones."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

A third of children in Bradford do not play outside after school New research shines a light on the physical activity habits of schoolchildren in Bradford.

More than 1 in 3 children in #Bradford ( #UK) do not #play outdoors after school and 1 in 5 do not at weekends. Lead researcher Ferguson: "[This] decline is worrying because it is linked to various health issues, including #obesity, #anxiety and #depression."
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#outdoorplay

Inside, but also outside.
Perfect place for a break.
#Delft #streetphotography
#urbanphotography
#humansofbluesky
#urbanism #publicspace

Get outside kids, enjoy the fresh air with your friends!
Just kidding, stay the F inside.

Safer Parks for Women and Girls Safer Parks for Women and Girls

Making parks and similiar public spaces safer and more inclusive for women and girls @makespaceforgirls.bsky.social www.greenflagaward.org/resources/sa...

Adventurous play the new normal as kids take to 'risky' new equipment 'Cliff riders' have sparked concern among some community members, but 20 have been installed across the country in an effort to help children learn through risk-taking.

[Ipswich, Australia:] New playground equipment encourages children to learn through 'risky play' www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

Waarom kinderen in de modder mogen spelen: "Een té steriele omgeving is slecht voor het immuunsysteem" | VRT NWS: nieuws Buitenspelen is cruciaal voor het immuunsysteem van jonge kinderen. In aanraking komen met modder, wilde planten en mos heeft positieve effecten op de gezondheid. Dat vertelt Irina Spacova, onderzoeks...

Waarom kinderen in de modder mogen spelen: "Een té steriele omgeving is slecht voor het immuunsysteem"

Buitenspelen is cruciaal voor het immuunsysteem van jonge kinderen. In aanraking komen met modder, wilde planten en mos heeft positieve effecten op de gezondheid.
www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/20...

The resident saw on their security camera that a bear was trying to play on the outdoor swing every day, but was unable to climb in. So they built a bigger swing.

House of Commons Library graphic promoting new research. Search engine bar containing: “Why is the number of children who play outside declining?” Green text boxes: “There’s a Library briefing for that. Get the facts at commonslibrary.parliment.uk” Decorative background image showing two children playing on scooters outside.

Unsupervised outdoor play is proven to benefit children's wellbeing, but research shows that the number of children playing outside is declining.

Find out more with the Commons Library's new briefing on children, young people and the built environment: commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

Kids need freedom. Dangerous roads make it hard to grant it. Bigger cars, distracted drivers and worried parents mean fewer kids are roaming freely.

The number of children injured or killed by cars while walking or riding a bike has fallen steadily since the 1970s, but CDC researcher note that this decline is not because streets are safer, but because fewer kids are out and about in the first place.

Progress In the Places People Love Will Persevere How MAGA Could Be Helping to Bring About the Future They Most Fear(But Shouldn’t) America’s story of progress has been driven by people and places building each-other up. That progress, though under a...

"Public spaces that actively include people are an antidote to politics that exclude people." @ethankent.bsky.social www.linkedin.com/pulse/progre...

Cars versus kids: How resistance to change limits children’s right to the city Through a long history of prioritizing cars in our cities, we have normalized not seeing or hearing children on our streets.

Cars versus kids: How resistance to change limits children’s right to the city (hint - it's #CarBrain): theconversation.com/cars-versus-... 1/2

Car Free Day brought new energy to @citywestminster.bsky.social streets 🌍✨

Families celebrated the launch of Play Streets with traffic-free play, cycling & community fun.

Check out what happened & learn how to join the movement 👇
zurl.co/jafbD

#ActiveWestminster #CarFreeDay #PlayStreets