PLAY
Pop-up obstacle course
Street Lab’s PLAY program enables safe, hands-free play for children on closed-off streets in high-need neighborhoods. The program builds on our work at NYC play streets since 2013, and was designed from the ground up with industrial designer Hannah Berkin-Harper in response to COVID-19. The program launched in July 2020 in conjunction with the launch of the city’s first official Play Street Program. Program elements include:
- A touch-free obstacle course with colorful barriers, hurdles, balance beams that can be arranged in any configuration and combined with chalk drawings for custom challenges;
- Street chalk and layouts for creating engaging, appropriately-distanced zones for street games, and physical activities (maze, race track);
- Signage guiding people through the installation and encouraging all to maintain a safe distance;
- Custom-designed benches stored on a rolling dolly in a compact stack; and
- Street Lab staff to oversee all.
We’re determined to make a safe place for learning and play, so kids in these neighborhoods don’t fall behind. Thanks to SPIN for early support. And now, we’re making our PLAY kit for other cities too!
NYC Mayor announcing Street Lab at 2020 Play Streets:
PLAY Design Partner:
Hannah Berkin-Harper
PLAY Fabrication Partner:
Bancroft Design
PLAY Founding Sponsors:
Lead Sponsor 2020
NYC COVID-19 Response and Impact Fund at The New York Community Trust
Blog posts about PLAY:
Activating an Open Street in East Harlem
Today Street Lab went to East Harlem to join our friends at Uptown Grand Central to: activate an Open Street, provide a place for community, and encourage passersby to support local restaurants. We brought PLAY NYC, our program for safe, hands-free play on streets,...
Have fun, stay safe—new signage for PLAY NYC
Here's a preview of new signage for PLAY NYC, which hits the streets tomorrow, starting a four week run across New York City. Designed for Street Lab by Alex Ching, these signs will help our staff and our community partners guide kids and families to stay safe, while...
NYC Mayor highlights Street Lab and announces 2020 Play Streets
Mayor Bill de Blasio highlighted Street Lab's new no-touch obstacle course and announced the return of Play Streets this summer in a press conference. In partnership with the Mayor's Office for Criminal Justice and NYC Dept of Transportation, Street Lab will...