Children’s Voice In Urban Planning

Mrs. Eva Spirdal-Jacobsen had a presentation of this subject the 8th of June under the IFME World Congress on Municipal Engineering & IPWEA International Public Works Conferenceis. She is architect and member of NKF Plan and Environment Board.

“There are no children playing here!” say urban developers when arguing for approval in regulatory planning processes.

National guidelines to strengthen children’s interests in planning (T-2/2008) demands that:

• Outdoor areas area to be used by children must be secured against pollution, noise and dangerous traffic.
• In proximity of housing areas there must be places where the children can create outdoors playroom. They must be big enough to be used all year, by all ages and as a meeting place for interaction between young and adults.
• The Municipality must set aside enough area for this and for kindergartens in urban planning.
• When approving zoning changes in land use from playground areas to other zoning uses compensation playground areas must be provided for.

No one better than children to give an accurate description of how and where they use or not the playgrounds and tracks, and what their uncovered needs for improving them are. Children's Track Registration is a method for active participation of children and youth for protecting their interests in municipal planning and ensuring that outdoor places are protected for play and stay. It also provides increase in knowledge for planners and a democratic practice for children.

Spirdal-Jacobse.pdf