I was lucky enough to visit Emdrup – the world’s first adventure playground – on a study visit to Copenhagen in 2003, and I still remember its relaxed, low-tech, quietly self-assured ambience. It would be tantamount to a crime against children’s culture to stand by and see its spirit die as a result of bureaucratic whim.
Emdrup, 2003. Photo credit: Ben Spencer
Please do what you can. You can support the campaign by writing to Dorthe Rasmussen Kjær at dk@rysensteen.dk. More details are in the reblogged post.
You may want to highlight why it matters for children and young people of widely differing ages to be given the chance to play together. US psychologist Peter Gray has good things to say on this [pdf link].
For more on the adventure playground model and the debt it owes to Emdrup, see this 2014 Guardian article.
Hats off to Play England for sharing news of this campaign. And a hat-tip to Alex Smith at Playgroundology for prompting me to include the contact details here.
Please note the title of the blog post that follows has a typo: the correct Danish word is ‘Skrammellegepladsen’ (translation: junk playground).
Source: Save Skrammelselegepladsen i Emdrup | Love Outdoor Play
Reblogged this on PlayGroundology and commented:
For those of us who are passionate about independent, outdoor play for kids with an accent on adventure, we owe a huge thank you for the brilliance of the Emdrup experience which continues to shine brightly in pockets here and there around the globe. If you are a lover of adventure playgrounds, add your voice to those who are campaigning to save this treasure.
“Changes by the local authority will see children segregated by age to make the playground a more traditional day care centre. Older children will be moved out. Staff and supporters are afraid this will lead to increasing restrictions in free play and risk, losing the ‘children’s democracy’ and autonomy that has characterised the site for over 70 years.”
You can support the Emdrup campaign by writing to Dorthe Rasmussen Kjær at dk@rysensteen.dk
Thanks to Tim Gill and Play England for sharing this information
Thanks for reblogging Alex – and for prompting me to add the contact details into my post (smart move there!)
Tim, I hope that local voices in tandem with some from different spots sround the world will help turn the tide. You’re on your way over here shortly if memory serves…
Hello, good news, I contacted Dorthe Rasmussen Kjær about the adventure playground and got this message back –
we just received notice that the Town Council will keep the After School facilities at Skrammel!!
The only “aber dabei” is, that Skrammel will be a part of a community of facilities instead of being on its own – which means that some of the traditions will fade og disappear, but in its roots Skrammel will exist and thank God for that.
That’s great news Thomas – thanks for letting me know. I’ll put the word out.