Playgrounds

Playgrounds are often the only places for children and young people to let off steam, play together, experiment creatively or just meet.

Play is crucial for children's development. Playgrounds contribute to development and promote self-confidence and self-confidence. They are therefore an important addition to playing at home and other leisure activities.

The Hessian building code explicitly prescribes the construction of children's playgrounds. It requires that a sufficiently large playground be created when constructing buildings with more than 3 apartments. Only in exceptional cases may the provision of such a playing surface be dispensed with if:

• a community facility or other playground suitable for children is created or exists in the immediate vicinity, or
• such a playground is not necessary because of the nature and location of the dwelling.

Hardly any larger residential project may therefore be built without the associated children's playgrounds.

The design of open spaces, the establishment and operation of playgrounds are also municipal tasks. For this reason, there are also numerous playgrounds in the individual cities and municipalities. The municipalities thus fulfil part of their mandate to carry out child and youth work (see also § 11 SGB VIII – Youth work in sport, games and sociability).

Numerous municipalities already provide detailed information about playgrounds and meeting places via the Internet. Playgrounds and meeting places are described, actions can be announced and documented and search functions make it easier to find offers near home.

• If you have suggestions for changes and improvements to playgrounds in your city/municipality, please contact the building and green space office of your municipal or city administration. There or often on the website of your administration you can also find out where playgrounds are.
• If you want to report contamination (e.g. by dogs) or misuse (e.g. by older adolescents), please contact the public order office.