Playgrounds

Playgrounds are often the only places for children and young people to let off steam, play together, experiment creatively or simply meet up.

Play is crucial for children's development. Playgrounds contribute to development and promote self-assurance and self-confidence. They are therefore an important complement to playing at home and other leisure activities.

The Hessian Building Code explicitly stipulates the construction of children's playgrounds. It requires that a sufficiently large playground must be provided when constructing buildings with more than 3 flats. Only in exceptional cases can the provision of such a play area be waived if

• a communal facility or other playground that can be used by the children is created or exists in the immediate vicinity, or
• such a playground is not required due to the type and location of the dwelling.

Hardly any major residential project can therefore be built without the associated children's playgrounds.

The design of open spaces and the installation and operation of playgrounds are also municipal tasks. For this reason, there are also numerous playground facilities in the individual towns and municipalities. The local authorities thus fulfil part of their mandate to provide child and youth work (see also Section 11 SGB VIII - Youth work in sport, play and sociability).

Many local authorities already provide detailed information about playgrounds and meeting places on the Internet. Playgrounds and meeting points are described, activities can be announced and documented and search functions make it easier to find facilities near where you live.