Playground Guide - 2016 - 21

Increasing Playability and
Encouraging Movement
By Lief Fitzpatrick

I

nactivity and childhood obesity are two major challenges facing society. To understand the issue, the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department in North
Carolina examined the role of traditional approaches to play
and found additional ways to challenge the mind and body.
Following are some of the new and innovative approaches
the department has sought out to encourage movement and
engage children and adults of all ages.
NFL Play 60
NFL Play 60 is a great example of a public/private partnership to increase playability in Mecklenburg County. The
first NFL Play 60 was built at Freedom Park in association
with the National Football League (NFL) and the Carolina
Panthers. The layout was a collaboration with the Carolina
Panthers, GameTime and Mecklenburg County, based on
the NFL's Play 60 program. The Carolina Panthers provided

	

funding to build the playground and set up an endowment
fund to maintain the playground throughout its useable life.
This amenity has given children and adults a place for a
different style of play that allows them to train like a football
player. NFL Play 60 provides children from underserved and
vulnerable populations with opportunities to engage and interact with caring adults, helping relieve the toxic stresses of
poverty and building strong bonds with adult mentors. The
Play 60 layout includes a timed 40-yard dash, tackling dummies and other fun obstacles on a synthetic turf surface. This
layout challenges children through active and balanced play,
helping them engage physically and mentally by challenging
them to think critically about the obstacles and course that
lie ahead.
From the inspiration and the feedback that we received from
parents and kids, Mecklenburg County expanded the program,
building a second Play 60 at Hornet's Nest Park. These chal-

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Parks & Recreation

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Playground Guide - 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Playground Guide - 2016

Playground Guide - 2016 - 1
Playground Guide - 2016 - 2
Playground Guide - 2016 - 3
Playground Guide - 2016 - 4
Playground Guide - 2016 - 5
Playground Guide - 2016 - 6
Playground Guide - 2016 - 7
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