A new pilot initiative launched by Fingal County Council has this amazing idea of neighbors socializing, children playing on the streets and car access being restricted on residential roads for short periods of time to help people come together in a social environment more often.
A part of the reasoning behind the Playful Streets pilot, which is being run by the Fingal County Council in conjunction with A Playful City, is that in 2016 the Early Childhood Convention heard that two-thirds of Irish children spend more time indoors than prisoners in maximum security prisons.
Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Howard Mahony said: “By encouraging children to play outside on the streets where they live, we’re helping to create a more supportive space where parents can relax with their neighbors and watch their children without the worry of cars speeding by.
“The Playful Street concept will also help open up new connections for residents, with people able to engage with each other within easy reach of their own comfort zone. It may also sometimes allow for people to meet others for the very first time. Neighbors who see each other regularly and watch out for one another are more likely to come together in times of need, while it can also unite them to come up with solutions to common problems.”
When traffic is restricted to local stewarded access, streets become a safe and secure space for children to run, play, and explore. This not only encourages physical activity but also fosters socialization and community building among children, their families, and other neighbors on the street.
Robert Burns, Director of Communities at Fingal County Council said: “Old-fashioned street play is being lost to cars and screen time, which means it is no longer common to see children out playing the way it used to be. That is why we really want to encourage these mini-community gatherings. It will allow local streets to be taken back in control by the people that live on them so that they can get out of their homes to interact with their neighbors in a more meaningful manner.
“We believe that introducing this concept across Fingal can help bring people together in a relaxed and safe environment, can create a sense of unity, foster greater community spirit, and importantly help reduce social isolation.”
“Fingal and A Playful City will be running the program in key locations over the summer, including an Open Day event in Balbriggan on Saturday 27th of May to kick start the pilot.”
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