TOplay: Child-Friendly Public Open Spaces in Downtown Toronto

Abstract

The study explores which strategies can facilitate children's free play and independent mobility (IM) in the City of Toronto central neighbourhoods' public open spaces (POS). The first part of the study uses interviews to assess caregivers' perception of POS to identify which common issues can challenge families' positive experiences in central Toronto neighbourhoods. Other cities' solutions to promote children's and caregivers' sense of safety, enhance proximity of play, and foster unstructured play are discussed to envision initiatives and strategies to respond to such issues. The study then compares Downtown Toronto's public realm's policies and guidelines to other cities' strategies and initiatives. It explores the challenges and opportunities to respond to the issues concerning parents living in central Toronto neighbourhoods. The final part of the study contains recommendations to address caregivers' concerns and desires about children's environments in central Toronto neighbourhoods. This study demonstrates it is crucial to listen to caregivers' concerns and address child-blind policies that limit children's POS to playgrounds' boundaries to facilitate free play and IM in central neighbourhoods. It also shows that Downtown Toronto's public realm policies and guidelines present more opportunities than challenges to child-friendly POS.