Published by City Farmer, Canada's Office of Urban Agriculture

Rediscovering the Animation Playground

The following is a short abstract in English describing the original 60,000 word paper which is written in German.

By Oliver Ginsberg
Oliver Ginsberg
Adventure playgrounds in Berlin
(Dipl. Ing. Landschaftsplanung, Chairperson of the Association of Adventure Playgrounds and Cityfarms (AKiB) in Berlin, Germany - Abstract of a research paper on the contribution of adventure playgrounds and city farms to a sustainable development in Europe completed in November 1997 at Technische Universität Berlin)

Addition:
The Community Farm Project
"For more than ten thousand years, cultivation of land and the rearing of farm animals was a "natural" part of civilization. Farming is the root of the urbanisation process, the dynamics of which in turn has driven farming out of our daily experiences."

Animation playgrounds are a child of functionalism in architecture and city planning, which at the beginning of the 20th century started to look upon buildings and space not only in its representative, but rather in its functional aspects for economic, social and recreational use. It was the Danish landscape architect C. Th. Sorensen who first recognized the importance of "skrammellegepladsen" (rubbish playgrounds), which should give children access to various construction play materials and the possibility to create their own play environment rather then provide them with already furnished, neat play sites. Sorensen was able to realize his idea first in 1943 in the city of Kobenhavn (Kopenhagen) as part of a social housing settlement for disadvantaged families. The idea was to provide children and young people with a possibility to develop their physical, mental and social potentials in an increasingly urbanized environment and possibly both parents engaged in paid labor. From the beginning construction play as well as taking care of animals and plants was part of the concept. A division in adventure playgrounds and children or city farms as it later occurred in other European countries, where the idea was enthusiastically copied was not intended originally.

Animation playgrounds spread first in England and Switzerland soon after World War II. Many other countries and projects followed in the late 60's and 70's, when social and ecological consciousness increased and the side effects of mass transportation by car traffic became more and more obvious. Today more than 1.000 projects in Europe exist, many of which are represented by the European Federation of City Farms. They are not connected by a consistent uniform concept, but by common historical roots, shared ideas and aspects of practical work as well as concern for the upcoming generations and a sustainable (city) development, which was first inspired by the so-called Brundtland report on environment and development in 1986 and reached the top of the global political agenda with the 1992 UN summit in Rio.

The papers theoretical introduction deals with economic, cultural and ecological aspects of urbanization with special attention to the differences in scientific reflection on neighborhoods and local communities (taking examples of Germany and the U.S.)

With health promotion (referring to the UN Charter on health promotion presented in Ottawa in 1986), socio-cultural animation and environmental education three core elements of the work of animation playgrounds are then identified and described in detail leading to the formulation of a catalogue of services provided by these projects not only to children and young people, but also to local neighborhoods and communities within urban habitats.

On the base of a previous survey among adventure playgrounds and city farms in Germany this paper includes comparative research among projects in Denmark, The Netherlands, Great Britain, France and Switzerland, presenting a data base of 90 different projects compared in more than 100 tables and graphic elements. Focussing on the structure of the sites, concepts, visitors and professional as well as financial background, the paper gives a gross picture of the animation playground scene in Europe such hopefully inspiring and supporting further research in details of the practical work. The paper includes around 70 pictures of European animation playgrounds, a separate section of planning suggestions and planning examples, like play and sports areas, garden elements, stables, water ponds, compost toilets etc. and a list of addresses from the countries mentioned.

Chapter V
Animation Playgrounds In Europe - Empirical Research
Read this 8000 word chapter (in German) on our web site.

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Table of Contents:

Chapter I Urbanisation - Neighborhoods - Animation Playgrounds

1. The global trend of urbanization
1.1. Urbanization - a problem of definition?
1.2. Urbanization as an economic, cultural and ecological process
2. Settlement politics in Germany five years after Rio
3. Neglecting children and young people
4. Sustainability as a central motive for animation playgrounds
5. Neighborhood - Encounter with the unknown kind
5.1. Spacial and social aspects
5.2. The beginning of cummunal constitutions in Germany
5.3. The increasing domination of central government
5.4. The problem of small communities after World War II
5.5. Community and Society
5.6. The question of participation
5.7. Neighborhood as a planning unit
5.8. City reconstruction, neighborhood and a new generation of animation playgrounds
6. Migration and Animation playgrounds
7. Summary

Chapter II Services Of Animation Playgrounds

1. Health Promotion
1.1. Towards a holistic approach on health promotion
1.2. Social networks and health promotion
1.3. The specific situation of children
1.4. The part of health insurances and city planning
1.5. Voluntary work and empowerment
1.6. Health promotion on the city level - a look on Berlin
1.7. European health policies
1.8. Summary
1.9. Services in the field of health promotion
2. Socio-cultural Animation
2.1. Background of socio-cultural work
2.2. Basics, methods and activities
2.3. Socio-cultural animation - a second class work field?
2.4. Between education, commercial entertainment and political debate
2.5. Spatial dimensions
2.6. Blind spots
2.7. Sociocultural animation with children and young people
2.8. Services in the field of socio-cultural animation
3. Environmental education
3.1. Terms and problems
3.2. Development and state of institutionalized environmental education
3.3. Environmental education, life style and wellbeing
3.4. The impact of direct nature experience
3.5. Problems of School education
3.6. Potentials of animation playgrounds
3.7. Services in the field of environmental education
4. Summary of Services

Chapter III Catalogue Of Services For Animation Playgrounds

1. Service Design and Formatting
2. Service groups, Services and constituency
2.1. Overview of service groups and services
2.2. Description of 43 services
2.3. Service profiles
3. Controlling
4. Formatting - Budgeting
4.1. Costs
4.2. Revenues
4.3. Contract prizes

Chapter IV Pictures

Chapter V Animation Playgrounds In Europe - Empirical Research

1. Results from previous research in Germany
2. Methods and Results
3. Statistical results
3.1 Comparisons on the national level
3.2 Comparisons according to site within city, type of project, date of foundation and status (governmental, non-governmental)
3.3 Comparisons according to size of the site
4. Results from open questions
4.1. Switzerland
4.2. Great Britain
4.3. France
4.4. The Netherlands
4.5. Denmark
4.6. Services mentioned
4.7. Participation in the planning of the project

Chapter VI Planning Suggestions - Planning Examples

1. Basics
1.1. Location and size of the project
1.2. Participation in planning and design
1.3. Considering all age groups
1.4. Different needs of girls and boys
1.5. Considering needs of handicapped people
1.6. Considering the needs of animals
1.7. Modeling and planting
1.8. How to structure the site
1.9. Planning of the main buildings
1.10. Promoting diversity by multiple use
1.11. Space for change
1.12. Entrance situation and appearance
2. Finances
2.1. Animation playgrounds - An unaffordable luxury?
2.2. Scenario for 20.000 animation playgrounds in Europe within 25 years
2.3. Creating sustainable jobs
3. Planning examples
3.1. Goat and chicken-house
3.2. Planning rules for horse stables
3.3. Fences
3.4. Barn
3.5. Multifunctional Main Building
3.6. Compost toilet systems
3.7. Root zone water treatment system
3.8. Ponds
3.9. Photo-voltaic solar system
3.10. Hedges
3.11. Playground furniture
3.12. Sport areas
3.13. Herb spiral
3.14. High level gardening
3.15. Design of a formal garden
Attachments

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Die Wiederentdeckung
Des Aktivspielplatzes

Zum Beitrag von Abenteuerspielplätzen und Kinderbauernhöfen

für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung in Europa

GRUNDLAGEN

LEISTUNGSPROFILE

BILDER AUS DER PRAXIS

EMPIRISCHE UNTERSUCHUNGEN

UND

HINWEISE FÜR DIE PLANUNG

By Oliver Ginsberg
Oliver Ginsberg
(Dipl. Ing. Landschaftsplanung, Chairperson of the Association of Adventure Playgrounds and Cityfarms (AKiB) in Berlin, Germany - Research paper on the contribution of adventure playgrounds and city farms to a sustainable development in Europe completed in November 1997 at Technische Universität Berlin)

INHALT

		Seite
	EINLEITUNG	1
KAPITEL I	URBANISIERUNG - NACHBARSCHAFT - AKTIVSPIELPLÄTZE	3-17
1.	Der globale Trend zur Urbanisierung	3
1.1.	Urbanisierung eine Definitionsproblem?	3
1.2.	Urbanisierung als ökonomischer, kultureller und ökologischer Prozeß	4
2.	Siedlungspolitik fünf Jahre nach Rio	6
3.	Die Vernachlässigung von Kindern und Jugendlichen	7
4.	Nachhaltigkeit als Anknüpfungspunkt für Aktivspielplätze	8
5.	Die Nachbarschaft, das unbekannte (Gemein-)Wesen	8
5.1.	Räumliche und soziale Aspekte	8
5.2.	Die Anfänge kommunaler Verfassungen in Deutschland	9
5.3.	Verschärfung des staatlichen Zugriffs auf die Gemeinden	9
5.4.	Das „Problem" der kleinen Gemeinden nach dem 2. Weltkrieg	10
5.5.	Exkurs: Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft	10
5.6.	Die Frage der Partizipation	11
5.7.	Die Nachbarschaft als planerisches Leitbild	12
5.8.	Sanierung, Nachbarschaft und die neue Generation der Aktivspielplätze	15
6.	Migration als Problemfeld - Aktivspielplätze als Verständigungsfeld	16
7.	Zusammenfassung	17
KAPITEL II	LEISTUNGSBILDER VON AKTIVSPIELPLÄTZEN	18-65
1.	Gesundheitsförderung	18
1.1.	Vom erweiterten Gesundheitsbegriff zur Gesundheitsförderung	18
1.2.	Die Bedeutung sozialer Netzwerke für die Gesundheitsförderung	20
1.3.	Die besondere Situation der Kinder	21
1.4.	Die schwache Rolle der Krankenkassen und der Stadtplanung	25
1.5.	Exkurs: Laienarbeit und Empowerment	26
1.6.	Kommunale Gesundheitsförderung - ein Blick auf Berlin	27
1.7.	Europäische Gesundheitspolitik	29
1.8.	Zusammenfassung	31
1.9.	Leistungsbilder	32
2.	Soziokultur	36
2.1.	Soziokultur als Ziehkind reformpolitischer Bestrebungen	36
2.2.	Grundsätze, Methoden und Arbeitsformen	36
2.3.	Soziokulturelle Arbeit als anspruchsvolles Arbeitsfeld 2. Klasse	38
2.4.	Soziokultur zwischen Bildung, Kommerz und politischem Diskurs	38
2.5.	Die räumliche Dimension der Soziokultur	40
2.6.	Die blinden Flecken der Soziokultur	40
2.7.	Soziokultur in der Kinder- und Jugendarbeit	41
2.8.	Leistungsbilder	42
3.	Ökopädagogik	49
3.1.	Begriff und Problematik	49
3.2.	Entwicklung und Stand der institutionellen Umweltbildung	50
3.3.	Ökopädagogik, Lebensstil und Wohlbefinden	52
3.4.	Die Bedeutung unmittelbarer Naturerfahrung	54
3.5.	Problemskizze der schulischen Umweltbildung	55
3.6.	Die Bedeutung von Aktivspielplätzen	56
3.7.	Leistungsbilder	58
4.	Übersicht Leistungsbilder	64
KAPITEL III	PRODUKT- UND LEISTUNGSKATALOG FÜR AKTIVSPIELPLÄTZE	66-103-
1.	Produktdesign und -formatierung	66
2.	Produktgruppen, Produkte und ihre Positionierung	67
2.1.	Übersicht Produktgruppen und Produkte	68
2.2.	Einzelbeschreibungen	69
2.3.	Übersicht Leistungsprofile einzelner Produkte	94
		Seite
3.	Controlling	96
4.	Formatierung - Budgetierung	97
4.1.	Kosten	97
4.2.	Erträge	98
4.3.	Kontraktsummen	99
5.	Perspektiven	103
KAPITEL IV	DER WEG IST DAS ZIEL - BILDER AUS DER PRAXIS	104-126
KAPITEL V	AKTIVSPIELPLÄTZE IN EUROPA - EMPIRISCHE UNTERSUCHUNGEN	127-161
1.	Ergebnisse aus früheren Untersuchungen in Deutschland	127
2	Vorgehensweise und Rücklauf	128
3.	Statistische Ergebnisse	129
3.1.	Ländervergleich	129
3.2.	Vergleich nach Lage, Projekttyp, Gründungsdatum und Trägerschaft	140
3.3.	Vergleich nach Größe der Einrichtung	150
4.	Ergebnisse aus den offenen Fragen	156
4.1.	Schweiz	156
4.2.	Großbritannien	157
4.3.	Frankreich	158
4.4.	Niederlande	159
4.5.	Dänemark	159
4.6.	Überblick über die angesprochenen Leistungsbilder	160
4.7.	Partizipation in der Planung	161
KAPITEL VI	HINWEISE ZUR PLANUNG - PLANUNGSBEISPIELE	162-204
1.	Grundsätzliche Planungsregeln	162
1.1.	Lage und Größe der Einrichtung	162
1.2.	Partizipation bei Planung und Gestaltung	163
1.3.	Alle Altersgruppen berücksichtigen	164
1.4.	Mädchen und Jungen haben unterschiedliche Bedürfnisse	166
1.5.	Auf behinderte Menschen Rücksicht nehmen	167
1.6.	Eine artgerechte Tierhaltung ermöglichen	167
1.7.	Geländemodellierung und Bepflanzung	169
1.8.	Flächeneinteilung	172
1.9.	Planung der Hauptgebäude	173
1.10.	Nutzungsvielfalt	173
1.11.	Raum für Veränderung	174
1.12.	Eingangssituation und das äußere Erscheinungsbild	174
2.	Finanzplanung	175
2.1.	Aktivspielplätze - Ein unbezahlbarer Luxus ?	175
2.2.	Szenario für eine flächendeckende Versorgung von ganz Europa	176
2.3.	Schaffung zukunftsorientierter Arbeitsplätze	177
3.	Planungsbeispiele	178
3.1.	Kombiniertes Ziegen- und Hühnerhaus	178
3.2.	Planungsgrundlagen für Kleinpferdställe	180
3.3.	Zaunkonstruktionen für verschiedene Tiergehege	181
3.4.	Remisenscheune	183
3.5.	Mehrzweckhaus	183
3.6.	Komposttoilette	187
3.7.	Pflanzenkläranlage	187
3.8.	Teichanlagen	190
3.9.	Photovoltaische Solaranlage	193
3.10.	Heckenpflanzung	193
3.11.	Spielgeräte	196
3.12.	Sportflächen	199
3.13.	Kräuterspirale	200
3.14.	Hochbeeteinfassungen	201
3.15	Die Gestaltung eines „formalen" Gartens	202
	ANHANG	I - XXXII

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