Making Space for Girls in Rowntree Park in York
Creating space for teenage girls in parks helps them feel welcome, with positive affects on physical and mental health. But until now, the needs of teenage girls in park design have been vastly over looked.
The result of three years of research, engagement and co-creation with teenage girls at Rowntree Park in York, we are thrilled to share that we have ‘created space for girls’! The new area opened in May 2024 and we hosted an opening celebration with local teenagers, supporters and York councillors.
UPDATE – more equipment to be added in 2026!
Our ‘Make Space in Rowntree Park project aims to encourage girls to the park and decrease the drop off of park use, compared to boys, as girls enter their teens.
The new area in Rowntree Park includes a basket swing, some ‘climbing benches’ and a picnic table. This may not sound like a lot, but it’s a great start to the area and a real statement! We seek funding to further development the space.
Co-created by teenage girls, for teenage girls.
Teenage girls have been at the heart of this project right from the beginning. They shared their views on Rowntree Park – the areas they used, those they didn’t – and why. Also they shared what the enjoyed doing and what made them feel safe and welcome in the park. They created designs and ideas to show what they’d like in the park and how they would use the space. The next step was looking for funding and supporters to help make their ideas come to life.
Why have we created this area?
When councils and developers create spaces in parks for teenagers, they most often opt for Skateparks, BMX Tracks, Basketball Courts and MUGAs (Multi Use Games Areas). These areas are 90% used by boys and men, and often the views of local teenagers aren’t sought. There are ways to make these areas more inclusive, but what research highlights is that teenage girls, and man boys, want more facilities for ‘play’ not sport.
Teenage play looks different from the play we associate with smaller children. It’s about socialising and developing independence. Teenage girls want spaces in parks where they can feel free just to be themselves, without the added element of competitive sports or activities.
What do teenage girls want?
From our own research in Rowntree Park, and from researching starting to emerge across the country, there are some common patterns in top wants:
-Swings – if they are communal or grouped together, even better!
-Benches and varied seating
-Platforms to sit up high
-Hammocks
-Shelters
Also there are things to think about with regard to these facilities such as where they are located, space to avoid one group dominating an area, good lighting, combining with nature. Above all, areas that don’t direct how you use them but allow you to choose -teenage girls want to be social, to be able to chat. If we create the spaces they want and would use, then we get them into the public space getting fresh air and spending time in nature, and with each other this is all so beneficial to physical and mental health. Plus once they start to feel ‘welcome’ in the public spaces, these patterns may continue through life. Confidence to know they are welcome in public spaces.
More information on our engagement work and findings can be found here.
Making ideas come to life
Questionnaires, focus groups, sessions and more led to the key themes of what teenage girls wanted in Rowntree Park. The next step was to find funding, the biggest challenge by far. We finally managed to secure support from the Sweaty Betty Foundation, the Whitwam Family Charitable Foundation and the Micklegate Ward (City of York) who each gave £5000 to the project. An additional £1000 came from Tesco (Stronger Starts Community Grant). with a £16k total we managed to secure a basket swing, climbing benches and a picnic table (plus installation costs). As we are a park that flood, the quality of the equipment had to be quite high spec, upping the costs. We were fortunate to work with local Play Equipment company Team Sport and Play who have been amazing throughout the project helping source suitable equipment and carrying out the installation.
Opening Party – we have started to make space for girls!
We hosted a celebration party in May 2024 to open the area. We were joined by the Micklegate Ward Labour Councillors Johnny Crawshaw, Pete Kilbaine and Jane Burton, as well as the Council Execs with parks under their remit – Jenny Kent and Kate Ravillious. All who support this project and the work we are doing with local girls.
Is the area JUST for teenage girls?
Everyone is invited to enjoy the new space whilst respecting its original purpose – we encourage people to uphold the spirit of inclusivity and consideration for others. This is a community project where local girls have really made a difference, and we are so proud of what has been achieved!
More information:
If you head to our main page here – there is more information on what the project was needed, our research and engagement, the results and what we are doing!
You can also find out more information regarding the issue with regard to parks and teenage girls via Make Space for Girls the national charity that campaigns for parks to be designed with teenage girls in mind. Their work influenced our project and their website is a great source of information for councils, developer and planners.