Abstract

Tim Gill, a visiting research fellow from the University of Reading, presented a paper reporting on both UK-wide and global studies of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the play and mobility of children. Its aim was to collate baseline information on infection control measures, which have significant adverse impacts on children’s play, exercise and mobility, and to gather and analyse emerging policy and good practice on how these impacts are being mitigated. 

Rachel Toms and Paul Lindley OBE, from London’s Child Obesity Taskforce, presented ten ways in which London as a city can turn the tide on child obesity. The Taskforce placed children at the centre of its work, took a whole system approach, and got bigger and bolder than many of the positive initiatives to date.

Raymond Lau, a chief project manager at the HKSAR Government, described a consultancy study commissioned by the Architectural Services Department, aiming to review local practices and develop new design and procurement guidelines, which could make the public play space in Hong Kong more attractive, innovative, user-inclusive and fun to play in a safe manner.

Finally, Raphaëlle Thiollier and Maria Sitzoglou, from the City of Paris, spoke on the topic of ‘Resilient schoolyards as a driver for healthier and cohesive neighbourhoods: the OASIS approach’. The OASIS project developed after the heatwave that hit Paris in June 2017, which resulted in closing down schools for three days owing to record high temperatures. The overall concept is to rethink schoolyards as a new type of neighbourhood green space. As well as creating healthier and greener spaces for children, as they are the schoolyards’ priority users, they also function as an accessible “cool island” for the whole neighbourhood, especially during heatwaves, namely an “oasis”.