Space to Grow: 10 Principles to Support Families in Cities

In partnership with the Bernard van Leer Foundation’s Urban95 initiative, this paper by Gehl Institute and Gehl briefly distils 10 initial findings from research to explore how public spaces in a city might better support young children and their caregivers. Ranging beyond parks and playgrounds to plazas, sidewalks and streets, it aims to inform and inspire planners, designers, public health advocates and community members who are fighting for more child-friendly cities. Available in Hebrew below.

The built environment is generally designed without much thought for the needs of young children and their caregivers. Changing this mindset is critical, and will result in a public realm that better supports a variety of groups, including disabled and older adults.