This morning we visited the Traffic Playground, one of 26 (soon to be 27) staffed playgrounds in Copenhagen. Staffed playgrounds were first established in 1939 and are unique to the city of Copenhagen; they are not found elsewhere in Denmark. The purpose of the staff is primarily to monitor children and deter adult predators, but they also put on educational programs. Staffed playgrounds seek to foster play, movement, communication, curiosity, and education. Each playground has a different theme and respective opportunities to learn – how to navigate roadways at the traffic playground, how to care for animals, how to compost, etc.
Children over the age of 6 may come to the playground by themselves, which also allows for an incredible opportunity to develop independence and be empowered to travel and visit places by yourself!
The staffed playgrounds create a safe space in the community. Playgrounds in socially disadvantaged areas may be perceived as unsafe (even if that is not actually the case). Playgrounds are especially important to create activities, act as a public meeting spot, and provide adult role models. Playgrounds even hire 13-17 year olds to help; they earn a salary and get experience working their first job.
Breaking off into groups, Rachel and I grabbed an early lunch at Souls to create a game plan and then set off to visit different playgrounds. Our first stop was the BaNanna Park/Playground (after almost getting doored along the way).
You enter the BaNanna park by walking through an enormous arch, which actually serves as a climbing wall. We saw adults lead-climbing and top-roping – a truly adult playground! The park also includes swings and more traditional play structures. Much of the space is taken up by a manicured grassy area with a large yellow, banana -shaped mound.
I chatted with Julie, who was there walking her dog, Euron (which means bear in Danish). Julie lives next door to the park in an apartment, and finds this spot convenient for walking her dog. For her, the banana is a nice spot to sit and watch the climbers. She told me that the park is shared with a nearby school. Julie is from an island but has lived in Copenhagen for the last 15 years and loves to bike everywhere!
Our next stop was the Bermuda Triangle Playground which was housed within a larger park. The playground features a wading area, play structures, and garden plots. We observed parents engaging with their children, what appeared to be nanny’s caring for kids, and a pre-school or camp group identifiable by their neon yellow vests. This playground appeared to be highly utilized by the community I’m not sure if that’s because of the demographic of the area, the warm weather with the water feature, or another factor.
From there we headed to ByOsen, and immediately noticed the beehives and garden plots for local schools. We commented that ByOsen is not gated as both the Traffic Playground and BaNanna park were. ByOsen also features green space, animals, and a play structure/zip line. Due to this, both children and adults were enjoying the park.
We spoke with a man who was sitting with his elderly mother, watching the animals and enjoying the park. He explained that the building bordering the park is a home for the elderly and that he comes to visit his mother and they spend time in the park. He also mentioned that school groups come to the park to garden or visit with the animals. I was struck by the mixing of communities and ages in the park, and the presence of an urban old folks home. In my experience in the states, many similar communities are in isolated, suburban areas, and require a shuttle to travel. I think it also demonstrates a different attitude concerning the elderly; instead of being relegated to the suburbs and isolated from other communities, people who live in this spot have access to green space and the liveliness of children.
We took a long ride to the Sundbyoster playground, which I was drawn to because it was identified as a handicapped-accessible playground. The provided map highlighted this feature in a way that made me think that it is an unusual characteristic for a park. While the park indeed had ramps so that wheelchair riders could experience the features, the engagement opportunities were limited.
Our last stop was Remiseparken. We passed a few blocks of single-family homes on our way there, and found the park nestled between apartments. Unfortunately, much of the playground is under construction, but we were still able to see the animals, greenhouse, and map of what the park looked like previously (including a composting area!). We again observed parents engaged with their children learning about animals and feeding them. While we can’t be sure of this, the apartments in this area appeared to be occupied by families of a lower socioeconomic status than other areas we’ve spent time in.
Visiting the traffic playground first, I think I subconsciously created expectations for the playgrounds that would follow. Each one we visited catered to a slightly different age group and community, but all of them seem to be a highly utilized space in their community.
In the evening I enjoyed Lena’s beautiful rooftop and took opportunities to chat with her husband, Nick, Rob, and others. We grabbed dinner at Baest, followed by a beer at Brus, and finished the night with a stop at the candy store, naturally