As cities continue to grow, safe public spaces for children to play, move and connect are shrinking. A new global guide released today by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and UN-Habitat calls on governments and city leaders to put children at the centre of urban design, arguing that public spaces are essential to children's health, development and well-being. The guide provides practical, evidence-informed guidance to help cities create streets, parks and public places that are safer, more inclusive and more resilient, while advancing equity, climate action and healthier urban living for all.
Globally, only 44% of urban residents live near an open public space, and that figure drops to 30% among urban residents in low- and middle-income countries. Millions of children living in towns and cities still lack access to public spaces. Pollution, traffic, overcrowding and climate-related hazards increasingly restrict children's freedom to move, play and thrive. Well-designed public spaces enable children to move, play, learn and engage with nature safely.
"Access to safe, inclusive public space is directly linked to children's health, development, learning and social ties and is a child's right", notes Dr Etienne Krug, Director of the WHO Department for Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention.
The Guide to creating urban public SPACES for children seeks to help governments, urban planners and partners create and improve safe, inclusive and child-friendly public spaces. The document draws on global evidence, expert input, consultations with children and city examples from diverse contexts.
"This guide shows how child-centred urban areas can fulfill the right to play and accelerate progress toward safe, accessible public spaces for everyone by 2030", said Dr Nathalie Roebbel, Technical Lead Urban Health, WHO Department for Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention.
SPACES provides a practical framework based on six principles – Safety, Play, Access, Child Health, Equity and Sustainability and offers guidance and related tools for planning, designing and managing public spaces.
The guide's calls to action include:
- reduce safety risks through traffic-calming measures, safe crossings, well-lit pathways, and secure routes to schools, parks and play areas;
- embed play opportunities across all types of public spaces – including streets, courtyards, neighbourhood areas and public facilities;
- prioritize access where need is greatest, using mapping and spatial assessments to guide planning and investment in low-income, high-density and informal settlements;
- meet environmental and health standards by ensuring clean air, shade, cooling, safe materials, proper waste management and protection from climate-related hazards;
- promote equity and inclusion through universal design, community participation, and removal of social, gender and physical barriers that limit children's access; and
- strengthen sustainability and resilience by expanding green and blue infrastructure, revitalizing underused land, and integrating child-friendly public spaces into climate and resilience strategies.
Over 55% of the world's population live in urban areas – a proportion that is expected to increase to 68% by 2050. As most future urban growth will take place in developing countries, the world today has a unique opportunity to guide urban development trends in a way that protects and promotes health.
