Cities on the Frontline Speaker Series
#01 – Why Cities Need Play and Placemaking (January 21, 2021)
Play and leisure are central to ensuring that children grow up happy and healthy. More time playing outside links to higher levels of happiness, however, our cities often lack opportunities or a city-wide approach to play. Covid-19 associated stresses faced by children and their families are a reminder to reclaim and integrate places to play in everyday life beyond the playground.
Louise Thivant Johannsen
Unicef
“We cannot afford not to invest in children.” “Building on what we have learned from the crisis, we have to invest in PLAY and play solutions that are innovative and high impact, through multi-stakeholder collaboration.”
Louise Thivant Johannsen‘s presentation
Hans Karssenberg
PlacemakingX
“We do placemaking for children with children and their caregivers.” “Through this approach, Tirana has transformed into a totally different city than it was before and it is totally replicable for other cities!”
Anuela Ristani
DM for Foreign Affairs, City of Tirana
“Zero playgrounds. In a city with half a million people. Then, in 56 months we built 56 playgrounds.”
