The Playful Streets Initiative 2024 aims to encourage Waterford children to play outside, making exercise fun and easy, while at the same time building stronger communities.
Healthy Waterford and Waterford Sports Partnership along with key stakeholders including Waterford City and County Council, Ready Steady Play, Sláintecare Healthy Communities, Waterford Libraries, Waterford PPN, Community Safety Partnership and CYPSC are delighted to launch the roll out of the Playful Streets Initiative for 2024.
Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Joe Conway officially launched the initiative on Thursday, February 1st at Bromley Walk, Ardkeen Village, saying, “This is an exceptional initiative to foster stronger connections with residents and demonstrate the significance of play and social interaction in communities. Playful Streets throughout Waterford were a great success in 2023 and I hope even more communities get the opportunity to get involved this year.”
Building on the initiative from last year, several Playful Street events will be rolled out within Waterford City and County between the months of May to September 2024. The Playful Streets Initiative encourages children to play outside, making exercise fun and easy, while at the same time building stronger communities. It is a low cost and easy way to create play spaces within housing estates and green spaces.
Jessica Griffin from Waterford City and County Libraries is delighted to be supporting the initiative. “I fully believe in the power of free play for children’s learning and their literacy development. We are hoping to pilot a play bag loan scheme within Waterford Libraries in 2024.”
Jade Kinsella-Browne from Ready Steady Play has also come on board this year to roll out each Playful Street event. Jade’s expertise in the area of children’s development and play, will be integral in ensuring these events will be fun for the whole family.
Residents’ associations and community groups can now fill out an expression of interest form to run a Playful Streets event in their own area.
To find out more about the Playful Streets initiative contact Eoin Morrissey at [email protected] or Lauren Walsh Kett [email protected]
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