Examining the Relationship Between Park Design and Children's Park Use and Play Behaviours in London, Ontario using Behaviour Mapping
Abstract
Parks can offer an optimal play environment for supporting childhood development by encouraging the engagement of adventurous and diverse play. This study examines how park design influences children’s park use and play behaviours with the aim of identifying what features can be improved to better facilitate child engagement in adventurous play and diverse play types. Using London, Ontario as a case study, nine 1.5-hour observational sessions of behaviour mapping were conducted in each park. 248 play events were observed in Lorne Avenue Park, a hybrid natural park and 310 play events were observed in Carriage Hill Park, a traditional park. The location and prevalence of risk-related behaviours, outdoor play types, physical activity intensity levels, and environmental interactions were determined, revealing existing features in each park that support positive risky play and diverse play types. This study reveals key features that can inform the design of balanced, safe, and challenging play spaces within a Canadian context.