API launches National Play Strategy: Best Delivery Guide for Local Authorities
Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve play facilities must not go to waste, says API
The Association of Play Industries (API), the UK’s leading trade body within the play sector, has today launched its Best Delivery Guide for Local Authorities. The Guide aims to support and steer Local Authorities in their implementation of the Government’s National Play Strategy. By offering a series of practical tips, the API hopes the Guide will help to eliminate the problems Local Authorities faced during Wave One as delivery of Wave Two begins.
“We are in the midst of a-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drastically improve the way our children play and socialise. The £235 million allocated in the Government’s National Play Strategy to build or refurbish play facilities in England must not be wasted,” says John Croasdale, API Chairman.
The Guide uses the practical experience gained by API members and Local Authorities in executing Phase One and is intended to assist in ensuring Wave Two, which is being rolled out from April 2009 – March 2011, is as effective as possible.
“We have developed this Guide because we believe it is vital to get the delivery of Phase Two of the Strategy right. The API is in a unique position to share its experience gained over the past year, having worked in partnership with Local Authorities to deliver new and refurbished playgrounds. We have built up a considerable amount of knowledge and we want this to benefit Local Authorities embarking on the delivery of WaveTwo,” adds Michael Hoenigmann, API Executive Member.
While the Government’s National Play Strategy outlines its vision for play, the actual delivery of the Strategy is not prescriptive, leaving many Local Authorities on their own to decide how best to implement it. The API believes this has led to some confusion on a number of different levels, something the Guide aims to put right, explains Mr Hoenigmann.
“We are hopeful the recommendations in our Guide will help Local Authorities to ensure the delivery of first class play areas that provide exciting and challenging ways for children to play.”
The API’s Top Tips for Delivering a Successful National Play Strategy:
1. Deliver a mix of play facilities in each area. Research by the Department for Children, Schools and Families has shown that an exciting, challenging and diverse mix of equipment will keep children returning again and again.
2. Strike the right balance between the landscaping of the play area and the equipment contained within it. Although it is important that the play area fits in with the environment, it is not a substitute for exciting equipment.
3. Evaluate community consultation carefully. Once the community has provided its input, the decision-making process should be retained by play professionals to ensure sound, workable design.
4. Get ahead with early planning of sites. More than 1700 sites need to be built this year and early planning and timely delivery will allow teething problems to be rectified and landscaping to begin to mature.
5. Work together with other Government Departments such as Planning, Children’s Trusts, Primary Care Trusts and Parks Maintenance. This ensures that the wider social benefits of good play are delivered.
6. Ensure true sustainability by sourcing products that are not only environmentally friendly, but have longevity and are low maintenance - check guarantees available from suppliers.
7. Keep procurement and liability simple. Where possible, use purchasing and distribution consortiums. This ensures cost-effectiveness as well as providing a source of advice and expertise.
8. Encourage high quality design by requesting that fewer companies respond to tender. Four to five should ensure a good quality response.
The API’s Best Delivery Guide expands on each of these points to provide Local Authorities with the knowledge they need to be able to develop their local strategy to deliver an enjoyable, challenging yet sustainable play space for the UK’s children.
To download a copy of the guide [click here] or email api@api-play.org