“We will create outdoor play areas for all children – at least 2 playgrounds per block across the city – 12,000 playgrounds.”
~ Adanech Abebe, Mayor of Addis Ababa
This guide is designed to assist in the planning, design, and implementation of playgrounds for young children in Addis Ababa.
Organised around a circular design process where each phase informs the next—from strategic planning and design to construction and long-term maintenance—this resource offers step-by-step guidance and practical tools to turn shared spaces into places of play and discovery.
Developed with different perspectives and institutional backgrounds in mind, the guide provides a tailored list of tools to meet your specific needs, whether you are an engineer or a social worker, from a municipal department or an NGO, there is valuable material for each of these roles to help create safe and joyful playgrounds, and contribute to more vibrant, child-friendly cities.
As part of the Addis Ababa Early Childhood Development programme, this guide was developed by Superpool and the Van Leer Foundation.
Credit: Genaye Eshetu
Q & A
An interview with Karima Grant, Regional Representative Africa
Toolkit
Playground Ideas for 0-3 Years
Case
A call to rebuild villages of care in our cities
