A Playful City
@aplayfulcity.bsky.social
"A city that moves at the pace of its people rather than its cars is a city that understands progress."
- Catherine Conlon, Senior Medical Officer, HSE, Cork. Former Director of Human Health and Nutrition at safefood.
www.echolive.ie/corkviews/ar...
- Catherine Conlon, Senior Medical Officer, HSE, Cork. Former Director of Human Health and Nutrition at safefood.
www.echolive.ie/corkviews/ar...
Cork Views: Fewer cars will make new Cork city village such an idyllic spot
Cork City Council has exciting, innovative plans for a village within the historic core of the city. But the plans need to retain their ambition to ...
www.echolive.ie
July 9, 2025 at 5:30 PM
"A city that moves at the pace of its people rather than its cars is a city that understands progress."
- Catherine Conlon, Senior Medical Officer, HSE, Cork. Former Director of Human Health and Nutrition at safefood.
www.echolive.ie/corkviews/ar...
- Catherine Conlon, Senior Medical Officer, HSE, Cork. Former Director of Human Health and Nutrition at safefood.
www.echolive.ie/corkviews/ar...
"Too often when we think about play in a planning context, we default to thinking about structured activity and providing spaces that are designated and equipped.
- Gemma Hyde, Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA)
1 of 2
- Gemma Hyde, Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA)
1 of 2
June 12, 2025 at 9:07 AM
"Too often when we think about play in a planning context, we default to thinking about structured activity and providing spaces that are designated and equipped.
- Gemma Hyde, Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA)
1 of 2
- Gemma Hyde, Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA)
1 of 2
🎉A DAY FOR PLAY! 🎉 Wishing our 362 communities running Playful Streets across the globe 🇮🇪🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇦🇿🇦🇵🇰🇲🇽🇩🇰🌍 a very ✨Happy International Day of Play✨
Thanks to ChangeX & The LEGO Foundation for their incredible support
𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 are now in
‣ 9 countries 🇮🇪🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇦🇿🇦🇵🇰🇲🇽🇩🇰🇻🇳
‣ 362 communities
‣ 5 languages 🇬🇧🇺🇦🇻🇳🇪🇸🇩🇰
Thanks to ChangeX & The LEGO Foundation for their incredible support
𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 are now in
‣ 9 countries 🇮🇪🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇦🇿🇦🇵🇰🇲🇽🇩🇰🇻🇳
‣ 362 communities
‣ 5 languages 🇬🇧🇺🇦🇻🇳🇪🇸🇩🇰
June 11, 2025 at 1:01 PM
🎉A DAY FOR PLAY! 🎉 Wishing our 362 communities running Playful Streets across the globe 🇮🇪🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇦🇿🇦🇵🇰🇲🇽🇩🇰🌍 a very ✨Happy International Day of Play✨
Thanks to ChangeX & The LEGO Foundation for their incredible support
𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 are now in
‣ 9 countries 🇮🇪🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇦🇿🇦🇵🇰🇲🇽🇩🇰🇻🇳
‣ 362 communities
‣ 5 languages 🇬🇧🇺🇦🇻🇳🇪🇸🇩🇰
Thanks to ChangeX & The LEGO Foundation for their incredible support
𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 are now in
‣ 9 countries 🇮🇪🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇦🇿🇦🇵🇰🇲🇽🇩🇰🇻🇳
‣ 362 communities
‣ 5 languages 🇬🇧🇺🇦🇻🇳🇪🇸🇩🇰
✨Befores → Afters✨ of The Gaps, Sallynoggin, May 2025.
"What makes this project truly unique is that it is entirely community led."
- Frank Curran, Chief Executive, DRLCC
In partnership with @dlrcc.bsky.social @aplayfulcity.bsky.social & the National Transport Authority
"What makes this project truly unique is that it is entirely community led."
- Frank Curran, Chief Executive, DRLCC
In partnership with @dlrcc.bsky.social @aplayfulcity.bsky.social & the National Transport Authority
May 24, 2025 at 10:45 AM
✨Befores → Afters✨ of The Gaps, Sallynoggin, May 2025.
"What makes this project truly unique is that it is entirely community led."
- Frank Curran, Chief Executive, DRLCC
In partnership with @dlrcc.bsky.social @aplayfulcity.bsky.social & the National Transport Authority
"What makes this project truly unique is that it is entirely community led."
- Frank Curran, Chief Executive, DRLCC
In partnership with @dlrcc.bsky.social @aplayfulcity.bsky.social & the National Transport Authority
Reposted by A Playful City
Trial a Strand Road cycle path for 12 months
Dublin City Council won its legal case after years of Court battles. We cannot listen to those who are trying to block quick action on climate change, road safety, and increasing mobility options.
Please sign and share!
Dublin City Council won its legal case after years of Court battles. We cannot listen to those who are trying to block quick action on climate change, road safety, and increasing mobility options.
Please sign and share!
Trial a Strand Road cycle path for 12 months
I've just signed this petition calling on the council to trial a Strand Road cycle path for 12 months. Will you sign too?
my.uplift.ie
April 30, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Trial a Strand Road cycle path for 12 months
Dublin City Council won its legal case after years of Court battles. We cannot listen to those who are trying to block quick action on climate change, road safety, and increasing mobility options.
Please sign and share!
Dublin City Council won its legal case after years of Court battles. We cannot listen to those who are trying to block quick action on climate change, road safety, and increasing mobility options.
Please sign and share!
Why is it that road safety campaigns so often emphasise high-vis & helmets, yet rarely directly address the dangerous design of vehicles — especially the height & bluntness of "SUV" bonnets that put pedestrians, particularly children, at far greater risk?
www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/n...
www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/n...
Being hit by an SUV increases the likelihood of death or serious injury | LSHTM
The likelihood of a pedestrian or cyclist being fatally injured is 44% higher if they are hit by a sports utility vehicle (SUV) or light truck vehicle (LTV) compared with smaller passenger cars, new
www.lshtm.ac.uk
May 5, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Why is it that road safety campaigns so often emphasise high-vis & helmets, yet rarely directly address the dangerous design of vehicles — especially the height & bluntness of "SUV" bonnets that put pedestrians, particularly children, at far greater risk?
www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/n...
www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/n...
Reposted by A Playful City
We are adding more and more vehicles, of increasing size, into a finite physical space that was designed for fewer, and smaller, vehicles.
In Ireland, we went from approx.700,000 cars in 1985 (for a pop of 3.5m) to 2.5m cars in 2023 (pop. 5million).
In Ireland, we went from approx.700,000 cars in 1985 (for a pop of 3.5m) to 2.5m cars in 2023 (pop. 5million).
April 26, 2025 at 10:55 AM
We are adding more and more vehicles, of increasing size, into a finite physical space that was designed for fewer, and smaller, vehicles.
In Ireland, we went from approx.700,000 cars in 1985 (for a pop of 3.5m) to 2.5m cars in 2023 (pop. 5million).
In Ireland, we went from approx.700,000 cars in 1985 (for a pop of 3.5m) to 2.5m cars in 2023 (pop. 5million).
What if a tree could talk—and not just talk, but share its experience of the world around it?
The Talking Tree project by Droga5 Dublin & Accenture Song brings a 150-year-old horse chestnut tree to life using localized AI & real-time environmental data.
www.rte.ie/news/2025/04...
The Talking Tree project by Droga5 Dublin & Accenture Song brings a 150-year-old horse chestnut tree to life using localized AI & real-time environmental data.
www.rte.ie/news/2025/04...
Project gives 200-year-old Dublin tree 'a voice'
If a tree could talk, what would it say? And what would you say to it?
www.rte.ie
April 18, 2025 at 1:44 PM
What if a tree could talk—and not just talk, but share its experience of the world around it?
The Talking Tree project by Droga5 Dublin & Accenture Song brings a 150-year-old horse chestnut tree to life using localized AI & real-time environmental data.
www.rte.ie/news/2025/04...
The Talking Tree project by Droga5 Dublin & Accenture Song brings a 150-year-old horse chestnut tree to life using localized AI & real-time environmental data.
www.rte.ie/news/2025/04...
The OECD "Cities for All Ages" report provides a structured & evidence-based approach for governments to cultivate urban environments that are inclusive & supportive for residents of all ages.
The full report:
www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
The full report:
www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
April 17, 2025 at 10:11 AM
The OECD "Cities for All Ages" report provides a structured & evidence-based approach for governments to cultivate urban environments that are inclusive & supportive for residents of all ages.
The full report:
www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
The full report:
www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
"Design Justice begins with a simple premise:
the built environment is never neutral. Cities are designed, & design is power.
Who gets to shape a city? Who benefits from its architecture, its transport, its housing? Who is displaced, erased, pushed to the margins?"
www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...
the built environment is never neutral. Cities are designed, & design is power.
Who gets to shape a city? Who benefits from its architecture, its transport, its housing? Who is displaced, erased, pushed to the margins?"
www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...
April 15, 2025 at 9:43 AM
"Design Justice begins with a simple premise:
the built environment is never neutral. Cities are designed, & design is power.
Who gets to shape a city? Who benefits from its architecture, its transport, its housing? Who is displaced, erased, pushed to the margins?"
www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...
the built environment is never neutral. Cities are designed, & design is power.
Who gets to shape a city? Who benefits from its architecture, its transport, its housing? Who is displaced, erased, pushed to the margins?"
www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...
"The objective is therefore not to create specific facilities for children, but to consider the place of young people in order to improve public spaces for the benefit of all."
theconversation.com/pourquoi-les...
theconversation.com/pourquoi-les...
April 6, 2025 at 7:56 AM
"The objective is therefore not to create specific facilities for children, but to consider the place of young people in order to improve public spaces for the benefit of all."
theconversation.com/pourquoi-les...
theconversation.com/pourquoi-les...
🚀👏 A collaborative project between #NationalTransportAuthority, #dlrCC & @aplayfulcity.bsky.social bringing local community in Sallynoggin together to reimagine an underutilised laneway as a beautiful and meaningful space for all those who live, work & play there.
www.dlrcoco.ie/news/general...
www.dlrcoco.ie/news/general...
April 2, 2025 at 5:23 PM
🚀👏 A collaborative project between #NationalTransportAuthority, #dlrCC & @aplayfulcity.bsky.social bringing local community in Sallynoggin together to reimagine an underutilised laneway as a beautiful and meaningful space for all those who live, work & play there.
www.dlrcoco.ie/news/general...
www.dlrcoco.ie/news/general...
Situations like these are among the key reasons why A Playful City was founded!
R.Kikuo Johnson’s "Upstairs, Downstairs" cover for The New Yorker captures a reality that too many parents and caregivers face: cities are not always designed with young children—or those pushing strollers—in mind.
R.Kikuo Johnson’s "Upstairs, Downstairs" cover for The New Yorker captures a reality that too many parents and caregivers face: cities are not always designed with young children—or those pushing strollers—in mind.
March 25, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Situations like these are among the key reasons why A Playful City was founded!
R.Kikuo Johnson’s "Upstairs, Downstairs" cover for The New Yorker captures a reality that too many parents and caregivers face: cities are not always designed with young children—or those pushing strollers—in mind.
R.Kikuo Johnson’s "Upstairs, Downstairs" cover for The New Yorker captures a reality that too many parents and caregivers face: cities are not always designed with young children—or those pushing strollers—in mind.
Reposted by A Playful City
Which came first: the chicken (deadly driving) or the egg (a culture that normalizes it)?
Does the Media Help Create the Traffic Violence Crisis? — Streetsblog USA
Which came first: the chicken (deadly driving) or the egg (a culture that normalizes it)?
usa.streetsblog.org
March 25, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Which came first: the chicken (deadly driving) or the egg (a culture that normalizes it)?
Every £1 spent on community sport and physical activity generates over £4 for the English economy and society.
www.sportengland.org/news-and-ins...
www.sportengland.org/news-and-ins...
New figures illustrate impact of investing in physical activity | Sport England
Research commissioned by Sport England finds that every £1 spent on community sport and physical activity generates over £4 for the English economy and society.
www.sportengland.org
March 24, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Every £1 spent on community sport and physical activity generates over £4 for the English economy and society.
www.sportengland.org/news-and-ins...
www.sportengland.org/news-and-ins...
"66% of you voted "in favor" of greening and pedestrianizing 500 new streets across all neighborhoods. In the coming weeks, a consultation will be held to define the list of streets and begin the city's transformation!"
Vous avez été 66% à vous prononcer “pour” végétaliser et rendre piétonnes 500 nouvelles rues réparties dans tous les quartiers. Dans les prochaines semaines, une concertation sera ouverte pour définir la liste des rues et débuter la transformation de la Ville !
March 23, 2025 at 10:55 PM
"66% of you voted "in favor" of greening and pedestrianizing 500 new streets across all neighborhoods. In the coming weeks, a consultation will be held to define the list of streets and begin the city's transformation!"
Streets designed for play, not just car drivers!
There's a vision for a 1km-long ‘play link’ for families, offering a dedicated space for recreation.
It's all about putting people first & creating a truly liveable and playful community...
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...
There's a vision for a 1km-long ‘play link’ for families, offering a dedicated space for recreation.
It's all about putting people first & creating a truly liveable and playful community...
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...
Manchester's new 'woodland town' where the streets will be for kids, not cars
“We want safe, compact streets"
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk
March 15, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Streets designed for play, not just car drivers!
There's a vision for a 1km-long ‘play link’ for families, offering a dedicated space for recreation.
It's all about putting people first & creating a truly liveable and playful community...
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...
There's a vision for a 1km-long ‘play link’ for families, offering a dedicated space for recreation.
It's all about putting people first & creating a truly liveable and playful community...
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...
"a new narrative is key to how we might reimagine the future, given that some 60% of us live in towns.
In this I turned to Cathal Mulry, director at A Playful City and UCC lecturer in urban design futures ..."
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
In this I turned to Cathal Mulry, director at A Playful City and UCC lecturer in urban design futures ..."
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
Cork city rose to the occasion during covid, but is starting to lose its shine
How we use our city and town centres changed a lot during the pandemic — and they haven't fully recovered
www.irishexaminer.com
March 10, 2025 at 6:31 PM
"a new narrative is key to how we might reimagine the future, given that some 60% of us live in towns.
In this I turned to Cathal Mulry, director at A Playful City and UCC lecturer in urban design futures ..."
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
In this I turned to Cathal Mulry, director at A Playful City and UCC lecturer in urban design futures ..."
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
Reposted by A Playful City
This is the exact opposite of what should be happening if we want children to be outside, moving, healthy and happy! We and allies will be strongly opposing this change.
We are concerned that government is considering removing @sport-england-se.bsky.social as a statutory consultee in planning applications.
Sport England isn’t just about formal sport, it works to help *everyone* be more active.
This is why it matters… for #people, for the #economy, for the #NHS:
Sport England isn’t just about formal sport, it works to help *everyone* be more active.
This is why it matters… for #people, for the #economy, for the #NHS:
March 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
This is the exact opposite of what should be happening if we want children to be outside, moving, healthy and happy! We and allies will be strongly opposing this change.
Reposted by A Playful City
I keep seeing the same common theme: the impossible standards placed on anyone advocating changes to our transport system. Question car dependency and you're expected to address every inequality and injustice at the same time; but support car dependency and you'll never be challenged on these issues
March 7, 2025 at 12:45 PM
I keep seeing the same common theme: the impossible standards placed on anyone advocating changes to our transport system. Question car dependency and you're expected to address every inequality and injustice at the same time; but support car dependency and you'll never be challenged on these issues
What makes a street exciting, relaxing, or stressful to walk on?
A new study presents a systematic way to analyse how urban design shapes emotions.
✨ Lively streets excite 🎭
🌿 Green spaces relax 🍃
🏢 Monotony bores
🚗 Traffic stress 😨
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
A new study presents a systematic way to analyse how urban design shapes emotions.
✨ Lively streets excite 🎭
🌿 Green spaces relax 🍃
🏢 Monotony bores
🚗 Traffic stress 😨
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
March 7, 2025 at 2:59 PM
What makes a street exciting, relaxing, or stressful to walk on?
A new study presents a systematic way to analyse how urban design shapes emotions.
✨ Lively streets excite 🎭
🌿 Green spaces relax 🍃
🏢 Monotony bores
🚗 Traffic stress 😨
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
A new study presents a systematic way to analyse how urban design shapes emotions.
✨ Lively streets excite 🎭
🌿 Green spaces relax 🍃
🏢 Monotony bores
🚗 Traffic stress 😨
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
"Time spent playing outdoors has declined by 50% in a generation & fewer than three in ten children say that they play out on the street."
www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/news-centre/...
www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/news-centre/...
Inquiry Report Calls On The Government To Restore School Playtime Amid Warning That Play Is Being Squeezed Out Of Children’s Lives — Play Commission
The Raising the Nation Play Commission, a year-long independent inquiry into why play is critical to the wellbeing of children in England, publishes its Interim Report, ‘State of Play’. The Commission...
www.centreforyounglives.org.uk
February 27, 2025 at 9:06 PM
"Time spent playing outdoors has declined by 50% in a generation & fewer than three in ten children say that they play out on the street."
www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/news-centre/...
www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/news-centre/...
"Active by day and dream-like at dusk, it glows like a lantern.
In contrast to the austere monuments that populate the parks, it reminds us we should never take ourselves too seriously."
www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/peter-c...
In contrast to the austere monuments that populate the parks, it reminds us we should never take ourselves too seriously."
www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/peter-c...
Peter Cook submits plans for ‘mischievous’ second 2025 Serpentine pavilion
Designs by Peter Cook for a second 2025 Serpentine pavilion, focused on play and taking Zaha Hadid’s ‘pioneering spirit’ as inspiration, have been revealed in planning documents
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
February 25, 2025 at 7:33 PM
"Active by day and dream-like at dusk, it glows like a lantern.
In contrast to the austere monuments that populate the parks, it reminds us we should never take ourselves too seriously."
www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/peter-c...
In contrast to the austere monuments that populate the parks, it reminds us we should never take ourselves too seriously."
www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/peter-c...
Reposted by A Playful City
HOT RESEARCH NEWS!
Motonormativity ("car brain") is a bias that stops people making rational judgements about driving en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motonor...
Our new study shows where this bias comes from AND how it makes people think they're odd for supporting changes to the transport system 🧵
Motonormativity ("car brain") is a bias that stops people making rational judgements about driving en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motonor...
Our new study shows where this bias comes from AND how it makes people think they're odd for supporting changes to the transport system 🧵
February 17, 2025 at 7:45 AM
HOT RESEARCH NEWS!
Motonormativity ("car brain") is a bias that stops people making rational judgements about driving en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motonor...
Our new study shows where this bias comes from AND how it makes people think they're odd for supporting changes to the transport system 🧵
Motonormativity ("car brain") is a bias that stops people making rational judgements about driving en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motonor...
Our new study shows where this bias comes from AND how it makes people think they're odd for supporting changes to the transport system 🧵
"Whether we're active or sedentary really plays a profound role in our health status...
the evidence suggests your environment can have big implications for your social & emotional wellbeing too."
www.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...
the evidence suggests your environment can have big implications for your social & emotional wellbeing too."
www.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...
Why your neighborhood matters more for your health than you think
Do you want to be happier, healthier, wealthier, and more creative? Experts say there’s one quality you should prioritize in choosing where to live.
www.nationalgeographic.com
February 17, 2025 at 12:52 PM
"Whether we're active or sedentary really plays a profound role in our health status...
the evidence suggests your environment can have big implications for your social & emotional wellbeing too."
www.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...
the evidence suggests your environment can have big implications for your social & emotional wellbeing too."
www.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...