|
|
|
|
Play Park
A young boy scurries up a wet rope ladder. 00.01.12/ Temperature: 3C/ Weather: Rain and snow/ Wind Direction: SW
Current Location: Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, 35 46 09 N 139 41 20 E
Distance Traveled: 0 km (Rest day)Who would have thought that playing could be a key factor in creating strong community ties and a healthy natural environment? I spent a snowy and rainy afternoon enjoying Itabashi Ward's Play Park and learning about the park's potential as a community building effort.
Skipping over thin mud puddles through a sparse park forest, several Kanazawa Elementary students and I made our way to the center of Itabashi Ward East Park where 'Play Park' activities take place. Ropes dangled from several trees. A paved sidewalk ran alongside a set of concrete tree replicas with climbing handles. Precipitation in the air teetered back and forth between snow and rain as Kanazawa students began to show just exactly how they use their Play Park. One boy scurried 5 meters up a rope ladder and into the top of a camphor tree. Making the transition from the ladder into the tree's branches was quite tense as we all looked on from below.
Friends wait at the bottom of the tree as a boy struggles to get into the top of the tree. I followed the young lad up the tree. Thereafter came one girl and yet another boy. We all made it up, however the way down would be a challenge. Descending the tree was particularly frightening for the young girl. Her hands shook as she tightly gripped a rope attached to the tree, groping with her feet for the rope ladder. Shouts of encouragement came from the other students below. "You can do it!" "Good luck," "You're all right." Finally stretching her leg and toes to their fullest, she gained stability on the ladder and returned safely to the ground.
Standing on the ground beyond the students was Mr. Kagami of the Playing with Nature Association. Rather than being over-protective and prohibiting such dangerous activities as tree climbing, fire making, or utilizing sharp tools, adults responsible for Play Park activities, Play Leaders, encourage the adventurous spirit in children. More importantly, they emphasize that kids should play however they wish to so long as kids take responsibility for themselves. According to the Play Park's way of thinking, in far too many cases, parents, guardians and teachers are so over protective that kids are unable to play freely and learn about responsibility.
Started in the 1940's in Denmark and England, the play park idea came to Japan in the late 1970's. Though there are several play parks throughout Japan, Itabashi Ward citizens are working toward creating a better natural and physical environment at the East Park. Though their activities have been approved by the ward on an event basis, the park is still not open to have kids be completely responsible for their own playing.
The Play Park movement is one which stresses the importance for kids to learn to have fun as well as to be responsible, however it does not stop there. The movement also intends to create community amongst local children, community amongst their parents, and improvement of the park's natural environment. Mr. Kagami commented about how community building has progressed, "The kids in the park make connections with each other as well as the parents who are trying to raise their kids. As a result of our activities here, a group of park mothers has been created, a community of people advocating the Play Park has been created, and people who normally wouldn't have ever had any relationship have been connected."
From the children playing in the trees to adults similar to Mr. Kagami who has taken on the challenge of creating community through playing in the park, those involved in the Play Park movement represent a valuable possibility for creating a healthy city environment. This includes community as well as natural environment.
How responsible are all of you for your actions?
What kind of park do you all like to play in?Greg
to Top News Page of Wisdom
< >
Copyright World School Network & ECO-CLUB, 1998-2000. No reproduction or republication without written permission.
Send feedback to info@wschool.net
