Going to the park and playing in the playground is a memorable childhood past time. However, with the increase of risk-averse design, have these beloved spaces for children to frolic, climb, and fall become too dull for children? Oliver Wainwright of the Guardian addresses an excellent perspective towards these "risk-averse" play areas, outlining how "architects are taking issue with risk-averse playgrounds full of sluggish roundabouts and tiny climbing frames." 

Regarding this specific subject, it's difficult not to think of Aldo van Eyck and his iconic playground designs found throughout Amsterdam. The famed Dutch architect played a pivotal role in transforming Amsterdam's playground landscape for children after World War II. 

Thanks to Mariabruna Fabrizi of SOCKS, her informative piece on van Eyck analyzes details highlighting his 30 year research and its relevance to urban design for children. Fabrizi explains how "throughout his career van Eyck looked for a way to connect contemporary design to atemporal shapes derived from the observation of people movement and interaction with space in different epochs." 

Wainwright reminds us that van Eyck used these play areas as "tools for imagination," which enabled children to be "lord of the city." He points out how architects and psychologists praised van Eyck's approach. However, health and safety lobbies were not too fond of these design strategies which have brought us to today's playground designs. The current social climate has transitioned 21st-century playground planning away from van Eyck's concept of allowing children to play and explore freely. 

Although there are excellent examples of play areas (like the Diana Memorial Playground in London's Kensington Gardens) which challenge these risk-averse design trends, do you think playgrounds have become too dull for children?