Play on the way materials

All character areas

Play on the way is an integral element to a number of the public realm typologies. For each typology ‘play on the way’ will need to be carefully developed to suit the setting, and to ensure that children are playing within areas that are suitable and safe. Specialist play equipment providers should provide guidance on siting equipment, soft fall requirements, maintenance and inspection.

It should be noted that almost any element of the public realm can be developed through thoughtful design to provide a play function. For this reason, play on the way elements may take various forms and require a varied palette of materials for successful inclusion. Suitable materials for play on the way features could include the following:

  • Paving variation in concrete block or natural stone.

  • Metal play elements selected to fit with the site’s landscape character area.

  • Timber play elements, such as stepping logs or low level balancing logs.

  • Concrete stepping stones or natural stone boulders.

Concrete or natural stone paving variations can be integrated within all street typologies and public squares. The material selection should align with the provided paving colour palette, but it should contrast with the base material (1). Metal play on the way elements may also be integrated (2) into all 6 typologies. They should be selected to have a consistent grey or yellow colour to align with the street furniture palette provided on the previous pages.

Timber play elements are ideally suited for integrated within Ebbsfleet Garden City because of their natural aesthetic and easy integration within planting areas and parks. Where it is deemed safe by the designer’s risk assessment, timber play elements can be integrated within green medians (3), pocket parks, small social spaces (4), parks and public squares.

Quarrying and Cement have a strong historical connection to Ebbsfleet and are ideal for integrating play on the way within SuDS features and social spaces. Concrete stepping stones can provide fun crossing points for kids (5) and the use of limestone boulders or concrete blocks can create pockets that double as social spaces and play on the way (6).