Designed spaces for young people

AdiZones are outdoor gyms or fitness spaces designed mainly for young people, which have been around for about ten months in London. Yes, they're sponsored, well spotted.  Via CYP Now I see there's to be a national rollout for a few more of these highly configured third places.

Well and good, but I do think there's a problem with the official impulse to over-design spaces for young people. It's natural that they will put some energy into redesigning it their way, and if that involves a little damage or graffiti we shouldn't be surprised: at that age, our instincts are charged to beat off anonymity, and it seems we live in a society determined to impose anonymity.

I think I know who will win, most times. There's a very successful space for young people in a town near me, which is basically a fenced-off disused building site, with some concrete ramps and tables for skateboarding. The authorities wisely left it to the kids to decorate it themselves and invent its uses. AdiZones feel to me like another example of Uncle Society telling young people how to spend their time, which is just not smart.

And I'm just curious about this: the adiZone freestyle space is designed 'to encourage Taekwondo, Judo, gymnastics and other activities like dance and aerobics.' I note that the equipment 'does not require electricity', but is there a power supply so that people can plug in their dance music? (And if they do, will we all have to hear it?)

Comments

[Adrian McEwen]

Interesting. I think you're right about the problems with over-designed "leisure activities", but it amused me that it's aimed at the opposite end of the age spectrum to the "outdoor gym equipment" being rolled out in some of the parks here in Liverpool - http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/News/newsdetail_3053.asp

[Kevin Harris]

thanks for the link Adrian... this popped up about a year ago, seemed sensible to me -
http://neighbourhoods.typepad.com/neighbourhoods/2008/07/why-is-this-a-s.html

[michael corvin]

Very informative article.. I agree with you in what you said about the problem in over-designed "leisure activities".