| Summary: | A stratified random sample of 93 children, 4 to 10 years old, from 9 different schools in
the Greater Vancouver Region was used to determine children's preferences for play
environments and play equipment. As well, questionnaires and interviews were used to identify
the preferences of their parents, school principals and safety officers as other important
influences affecting the choices in the design of school play environments. The results of the
study were consistent with a similar one involving children 11 to 16 years old; expressing strong
preferences for variety, texture, colour, trees and natural elements such as water and sand. The
children's specific comments reflected the effect of their play experiences in areas of social and
environmental learning. The comments of the parents, principals and safety officers were
focused primarily on safety.
The results were integrated to offer design guidelines for playgrounds, parks, and
greenways. The guidelines were applied to present a full design for a playground of a school
and an adjacent park in a community in the Greater Vancouver Region. As a result of the survey,
a design matrix is created which takes a composite list for qualities of good play environments
and compares the list to landscape features as having direct or indirect influences. The unique
approach reflected a foundation that is comprehensive, interdisciplinary, holistic and universal
for accessibility.
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