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Active outdoor play is crucial for children’s health and development, and playgrounds in public open spaces, such as parks or community areas, provide an ideal space for it.
However, the importance of these playgrounds’ use for health and well-being is still unclear.
As part of the World Playground Research Institute’s comprehensive scoping review conducted in 2024*, 55 studies related to playgrounds in public open spaces were extracted from all published research on playground use and its health benefits for children.
The aim was to create a clearer and more detailed overview of public playgrounds’ impact on children’s well-being.
In this brief, we summarize key insights from the scoping review, aiming to guide health authorities, city planners, and policymakers in making informed decisions about investments and designs in the area of public open spaces.
It also supports researchers in identifying areas for future research needs.
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Most of the 55 studies were descriptive and exploratory studies about physical activity. Few studies were about weight status, motor skills, and mental health.
Eight studies explored feasibility and pilot interventions, while only one study focused on efficacy and effectiveness, measuring the impact of using public playgrounds in promoting physical activity.
The interventions in public open spaces differed widely, and even though many added play structures, their results were mixed and not directly comparable.
As a result, the evidence for health benefits related to public playgrounds is less convincing compared to those of schools and Early Education and Childcare (ECEC) centers.
However, the scoping review provides recommendations to guide informed decisions on investments and designs for public open spaces.
Research in low-income neighborhoods has linked opened, supervised schoolyards to increased physical activity and reduced time spent on sedentary activities, such as watching TV.
A study showed that building playscapes in parks increases visitation, particularly among children and their families, and promoted physical activity.
Healthcare providers, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and others can support parents in prioritizing and engaging in outdoor play enhances physical activity and social interactions, benefiting both children and parents.
For city planners, policymakers, and healthcare providers, the review recommends …
For researchers, the research on playgrounds in public open spaces needs more…
Research on public playgrounds needs more efficacy and effectiveness studies, and in particular replication and scale-up studies to demonstrate which types of public playground interventions are successful.
Playground interventions in public open spaces need to be tailored to local needs and possibilities – ‘one size does not fit all’ when designing playground interventions – and evaluation studies need to take this tailoring process into account.
All our briefs are accessible through our website, www.playgroundresearch.org.
On the website, you’ll find a compilation of briefs that offer a clear comprehension of research findings and their implications for future research and practical application.
You can also download a printable PDF version of this brief to facilitate sharing
