This initiative is really spot-on! The playground project accomplishes many objectives in one. In the past, the park would always get flooded by storms and create severe water pollution and disabling children from playing in it. There was also no trees or greenery. And like most New Yorkers, the students were uneducated and or disengaged with nature.
The Trust for Public Land and the city’s Department of Environmental Protection’s joint effort addressed all these issues in one shot. A few days after the playground opened, there was a two-inch rainstorm completely absorbed into the ground. New trees provide shade and along with plants absorb carbon dioxide. Also, as we mentioned on Monday, greenery has proven to ease levels of anxiety and stress and perhaps even improve ones memory. With those results in mind, schools would be an important place to plant in. I especially appreciated the project’s educational factor. Students experienced hands on learning, understanding which plants and materials are most effective against sewage overflow. After learning about a playground, students gained a deeper understanding of their surroundings and perhaps began to associate education with fun. I also believe the students were empowered by making environmental and even financial decisions on their very own park.
While further researching the topic, I stumbled upon a POV article that agrees with many classmates’ call for more “free” and less structured outdoor playtime. The author brings in two examples, the first a documentary The Land, where Welsh children freely play with hammers, and other sharp tools, creating their own rules and gaining control over their environment. The children are happy and at one with nature. Similarly,
In Amy Fusselman’s book Savage Park, she reflects on her positive memories of playing in the junk playgrounds in Tokyo. She argues that Americans sacrifice impactful experiences out of risk avoidance (http://www.metropolismag.com/Point-of-View/September-2015/New-City-Playgrounds-Explore-Undirected-Play/). While allowing for more independent play may be beneficial, New York’s playground initiative is a great step towards bringing education outdoors.
