Gerben Helleman
LightNews LightNews
banner
gerbenhelleman.bsky.social
Gerben Helleman
@gerbenhelleman.bsky.social
190 followers 210 following 870 posts
Posts about the connections between the Planned and the Lived City #playfriendlycities #childfriendlycities #publicspace #cities #outdoorplay #play #childhood #geographer #playspaces #childrensgeographies #urbanism #urbanplanning #citylife #citiesforpeople
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
gerbenhelleman.bsky.social
Gerben Helleman @gerbenhelleman.bsky.social · Dec 30
Let’s make more #childfriendly and #playfriendly districts! This model will give you guidance and inspiration. With 💯measures for stimulating active free play in #cities around the world:
urbanspringtime.blogspot.com/playablecities
#publicspaces #outdoorplay #kids #childfriendlycities #playspaces
Children's daily lives are affected mostly by decisions made by parents, teachers and urban planners. Together they influence where, how and how long children play. In recent years, children's outdoor play has declined. For health and pedagogical reasons, it is important that we stimulate outdoor playing. To realize this we need a new approach on public spaces for kids. This approach doesn't start with picking some elements from catalogues of play equipment companies or landscape architects. We should start at the other end by taking into account the bigger picture: the purpose (WHY) and the conditions (HOW) to realize playable cities. Only then, do we know which actions (WHAT) have to be carried out. The purpose is to stimulate outside playing, because it improves the health of kids, enriches their skills and most of all it gives them pleasure (WHY). These higher goals can only be achieved when the right conditions are created (HOW). For example public spaces should be accessible, attractive, challenging, divers and inviting. The different actions and efforts (WHAT) such as design, programming and ordering equipment are a result of these sub goals and not the other way around. In total, I come to 100 measures. Examples of these actions are broad sidewalks, climbing structures, greenery, ground markings, shared spaces and bike racks for kids. The moral of this story: if we want to realize playable cities we have to consider these three aspects (WHY, HOW, WHAT) continuously and collectively.
Reposted by Gerben Helleman
tomflood.bsky.social
Get outside kids, enjoy the fresh air with your friends!
Just kidding, stay the F inside.
a newspaper headline Mississauga upholds ban on street sports, including hockey and basketball from Nov 2024
November 27, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Reposted by Gerben Helleman
briancutts.bsky.social
Making parks and similiar public spaces safer and more inclusive for women and girls @makespaceforgirls.bsky.social www.greenflagaward.org/resources/sa...
Safer Parks for Women and Girls
Safer Parks for Women and Girls
www.greenflagaward.org
October 25, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Reposted by Gerben Helleman
outsideplayubc.bsky.social
[Ipswich, Australia:] New playground equipment encourages children to learn through 'risky play' www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
Adventurous play the new normal as kids take to 'risky' new equipment
'Cliff riders' have sparked concern among some community members, but 20 have been installed across the country in an effort to help children learn through risk-taking.
www.abc.net.au
November 12, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Reposted by Gerben Helleman
kardonsch.bsky.social
Waarom kinderen in de modder mogen spelen: "Een té steriele omgeving is slecht voor het immuunsysteem"

Buitenspelen is cruciaal voor het immuunsysteem van jonge kinderen. In aanraking komen met modder, wilde planten en mos heeft positieve effecten op de gezondheid.
www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/20...
Waarom kinderen in de modder mogen spelen: "Een té steriele omgeving is slecht voor het immuunsysteem" | VRT NWS: nieuws
Buitenspelen is cruciaal voor het immuunsysteem van jonge kinderen. In aanraking komen met modder, wilde planten en mos heeft positieve effecten op de gezondheid. Dat vertelt Irina Spacova, onderzoeks...
www.vrt.be
November 14, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Reposted by Gerben Helleman
nantanreikan.bsky.social
The resident saw on their security camera that a bear was trying to play on the outdoor swing every day, but was unable to climb in. So they built a bigger swing.
October 12, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Gerben Helleman
houseofcommons.parliament.uk
Unsupervised outdoor play is proven to benefit children's wellbeing, but research shows that the number of children playing outside is declining.

Find out more with the Commons Library's new briefing on children, young people and the built environment: commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
House of Commons Library graphic promoting new research. Search engine bar containing: “Why is the number of children who play outside declining?” Green text boxes: “There’s a Library briefing for that. Get the facts at commonslibrary.parliment.uk” Decorative background image showing two children playing on scooters outside.
October 23, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Reposted by Gerben Helleman
washingtonpost.com
The number of children injured or killed by cars while walking or riding a bike has fallen steadily since the 1970s, but CDC researcher note that this decline is not because streets are safer, but because fewer kids are out and about in the first place.
Kids need freedom. Dangerous roads make it hard to grant it.
Bigger cars, distracted drivers and worried parents mean fewer kids are roaming freely.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 13, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Reposted by Gerben Helleman
placemakingx.bsky.social
"Public spaces that actively include people are an antidote to politics that exclude people." @ethankent.bsky.social www.linkedin.com/pulse/progre...
Progress In the Places People Love Will Persevere
How MAGA Could Be Helping to Bring About the Future They Most Fear(But Shouldn’t) America’s story of progress has been driven by people and places building each-other up. That progress, though under a...
www.linkedin.com
October 15, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Reposted by Gerben Helleman
sflkirk.bsky.social
Cars versus kids: How resistance to change limits children’s right to the city (hint - it's #CarBrain): theconversation.com/cars-versus-... 1/2
Cars versus kids: How resistance to change limits children’s right to the city
Through a long history of prioritizing cars in our cities, we have normalized not seeing or hearing children on our streets.
theconversation.com
September 28, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Reposted by Gerben Helleman
activewestminster.bsky.social
Car Free Day brought new energy to @citywestminster.bsky.social streets 🌍✨

Families celebrated the launch of Play Streets with traffic-free play, cycling & community fun.

Check out what happened & learn how to join the movement 👇
zurl.co/jafbD

#ActiveWestminster #CarFreeDay #PlayStreets
September 25, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Reposted by Gerben Helleman
outdoorplayca.bsky.social
🎉 It’s here 🎉

The 2025 Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play is officially live!

Packed with new insights, sector-specific recommendations, and grounded in 9 key themes, this updated Statement is your go-to guide for supporting active outdoor play for all! 🌿

www.outdoorplaycanada.ca/aop10/
September 25, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Reposted by Gerben Helleman
ioe.bsky.social
"The power of play." 🛝⚽️ New research emphasises the importance of designing outdoor play spaces in cities to create community ties and nurture child development.

– from IOE, @uclengineering.bsky.social & @bihr.bsky.social
www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/sep/...
Space for play is being ‘designed-out’ of urban childhoods 
Children growing up in British cities face barriers to safe, playable spaces as financial constraints, policy misalignment and housing pressures cause planners to prioritise property over parks,
www.ucl.ac.uk
September 17, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Reposted by Gerben Helleman
sociallifeproject.bsky.social
The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces

Revisiting the newly restored classic film by William H. Whyte
www.sociallifeproject.org/the-social-l...

@anthologyfilm.bsky.social @placemakingx.bsky.social @ppsplacemaking.bsky.social

#Placemaking #PublicSpace #Urbanism #WilliamHWhyte
September 9, 2025 at 2:14 AM
gerbenhelleman.bsky.social
Enjoying #publicspace with friends.
#Waterfront #TheHague #streetphotography
#urbanphotography
#humansofbluesky
#urbanism
#landscape #design
September 3, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Reposted by Gerben Helleman
streetartutopia.com
"A mural of the Statue of Liberty in shame" by JDL Street Ar in Lille , Roubaix France 🇫🇷
Mural by JDL Street Art in Roubaix, Lille, France, depicting the Statue of Liberty covering her face with both hands in a gesture of shame. The figure is painted in shades of grey with teal accents on the torch and crown, set against a muted background with a golden halo-like circle. The artwork spans the side of a tall brick building, contrasting modern street art with historic European architecture in the surrounding cityscape.
August 29, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Reposted by Gerben Helleman
qagggy.bsky.social
Is it possible that…urbanism is a winning strategy in cities?
August 28, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Reposted by Gerben Helleman
emmet.quiddity.ie
"The kids get to play out and they haven't got cars interfering with them, and everybody gets to have a good time … People also get to meet each other, neighbours you've probably not spoke to and it's good for the community."

PLAY STREETS:

GOOD FOR KIDS, GOOD FOR COMMUNITIES

👊
August 24, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Reposted by Gerben Helleman
jaapmodder.bsky.social
My #picoftheday
August 21, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Reposted by Gerben Helleman
visionzerovancouver.ca
It was awesome collaborating with @tomflood.bsky.social on this project. So cool to see this up!
Billboard reads: Smoking tables next to non-smoking tables used to be normal too. Join us in fighting for safe streets. The vision Zero logo and Rovelo Creative are listed below. On the right, a photo of a young child riding a bike on the shoulder of a road next to a very large truck.
August 20, 2025 at 3:23 PM
gerbenhelleman.bsky.social
And suddenly the market square in #Delft (The Netherlands) becomes an open-air cinema...
#placemaking #publicspace
#urbanphotography #streetphotography #cinema
August 19, 2025 at 7:27 PM
gerbenhelleman.bsky.social
This is the 'Gelbe Affe' (Yellow Monkey) in #Düsseldorf, #Germany. This #mural was created in 2012 by the Majo Brothers, an artistic duo consisting of Marc and Joe Hennig.
#streetphotography
#urbanphotography
#urbanart #streetart
#graffiti #Deutschland
August 18, 2025 at 3:05 PM
gerbenhelleman.bsky.social
With a little imagination you can sit anywhere and enjoy your drink and each other.
📍 #Innsbruck, Austria
#streetphotography
#urbanphotography
#humansofbluesky
#publicspace
#urbanism
#placemaking
#Österreich
August 16, 2025 at 5:04 PM
gerbenhelleman.bsky.social
#Paris, the City of Love❤️, City of Lights💡, Capital of Fashion👗, City of Art🎨, but in my opinion also the City of #Publicspace🌳. What a wonderful city to sit, relax, stroll, and play guitar...
(🧵1/3)
#streetphotography
#humansofbluesky
@ppsplacemaking.bsky.social
@sociallifeproject.bsky.social
August 15, 2025 at 3:56 PM
gerbenhelleman.bsky.social
"Children play anywhere and everywhere" is a famous quote from Colin Ward (1978). An observation that still applies.
#childfriendly #play #children #library #slide #humansofbluesky
August 13, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Reposted by Gerben Helleman
modacitylife.com
Inaugurated at the world’s first “Swimmable Cities” summit in May, Rotterdam’s Rijnhaven—once an industrial port on the south bank of the Nieuwe Maas River—is now a designated (free) public swimming area complete with a floating pontoon park; the only legal place to swim outdoors in the city centre.
Photographs of an outdoor floating park and swimming area on the banks of the Maas River in the city centre of Rotterdam. Photographs of an outdoor floating park and swimming area on the banks of the Maas River in the city centre of Rotterdam. Photographs of an outdoor floating park and swimming area on the banks of the Maas River in the city centre of Rotterdam. Photographs of an outdoor floating park and swimming area on the banks of the Maas River in the city centre of Rotterdam.
August 10, 2025 at 1:06 PM