Context

Worcester, a cathedral city in Worcestershire with a population of 103,872 (2021 census) recently issued a tender for a new play strategy. The goal was to rethink play space development, calling for an innovative approach that aligns with the needs of children and families in the city.

Harper Perry, an unconventional design practice known for their creative solutions, won the project. James Perry, the project lead, stated:

“We aimed to evaluate existing play provisions and identify gaps in play space access, particularly in areas lacking facilities for teenagers—such as MUGAs and skate parks—and younger children aged 2-11.” This project set the stage for a comprehensive and forward-thinking play strategy.

However, with Worcester being a large area containing numerous play spaces, the design team needed to consolidate and analyse vast amounts of data quickly to evaluate ease of access and quality of provision. As in many cases, information on relevant spaces must be updated, was held in different places, not known, or locations were inaccurate. 

What was done

Bringing All Locations into One Place with PlaceChangers

Harper Perry utilised the PlaceChangers platform to develop a play strategy informed by walking access principles and hyper-local feedback.

At the start, PlaceChangers helped consolidate data from more than 280 play spaces, merging official records with informal play areas listed on OpenStreetMaps.

Ultimately, the final analysis focused on 196 play spaces, including 61 locations that were previously unidentified through official records. These new locations were discovered via the PlaceChangers Site Insights tool.

Walkable Access Analytics Without Complex GIS

One of the core components of the play strategy was assessing walkable access to play areas without the need for complex GIS systems.

Harper Perry then used the PlaceChangers spatial analytics tool,  PlaceChangers Site Insights, Harper Perry generated walking access maps that identified "blind spots" for existing provisions.

The app’s ease of use allowed the team to quickly create coverage maps for various play spaces, considering street connectivity and age groups.

PlaceChangers platform vector graphics exports enabled Harper Perry’s design team to integrate visuals seamlessly into their reports.

Engaging Worcester Residents in Play Strategy Development

Harper Perry’s play strategy didn’t stop at data analysis. They conducted a series of engaging local workshops, involving young people and families, to gather qualitative insights.

Using PlaceChangers Interactive Consultation tool, they facilitated an interactive consultation, enabling Worcester residents to provide feedback on the current state of play provisions in their city.

Outcomes

The use of PlaceChangers' place analytics tool allowed Harper Perry to gain a deeper understanding of play space provision gaps. The ability to generate analytics in minutes, re-run access scenarios with new play locations, and export detailed coverage maps has streamlined the entire play strategy process.

On top, the team gathered plenty of hyper-local responses, which they used as anecdotes for access to play across the 196 play spaces included in the consultation. 

Worchester Council was thrilled with the detailed insights gathered through PlaceChangers, enabling them to respond to local needs and expectations beyond the timeframe of the project. 

PlaceChangers enabled Harper Perry to gather unprecedented levels of user-centred insights, underpinning a quality play space strategy that went above and beyond the client's expectations.

Status: Approved at Cabinet