Why Did We Stop Playing? (And Why We Need to Start Again)

9th July, 2025

Keywords: adult play spaces, landscape architecture and wellbeing, public space design, playful outdoor design, mental health and nature, why play matters, urban green spaces

Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, play quietly left the room.

As kids, we ran barefoot in parks, swung from trees, and invented games out of nothing. But as we grew older, play was replaced by productivity. Deadlines. Bills. Expectations. And with it, many of us lost our connection to unstructured joy, especially outdoors.

But here's the thing: adults need play too.

Credits: Margaret Kester - Unsplash

Not just to stay physically active, but to think creatively, reduce stress, and build meaningful social connections. Studies show that play helps adults manage anxiety, improve mental health, and even enhance problem-solving skills. It’s not just for kids - it’s human.

So what happened?

We stopped playing because most public spaces stopped inviting us. There are playgrounds for children and walking tracks for fitness - but not much in between. And it’s not anyone’s fault. Most people don’t realize they need a space until they’re in one that makes them feel good. Until they find that unexpected bench under a tree, or a gentle slope that whispers, “roll down if you feel like it.”

As a landscape architect, this is something I think about a lot.

There are days I walk through a public park and all I want is to roll down a grassy mound, swing for a few minutes, or slide down just once - but I end up sneaking it in only when security isn’t looking, or when the kids have cleared out.

Why don’t we have more spaces that let us do that, without feeling like we’re out of place?

When we talk about play for adults, it’s often limited to tennis courts, pickleball, sports fields, or jogging tracks. But that’s not the kind of play I’m talking about. Those spaces are great, but what we’re missing is the chance to be playful in the way we were as children. To run up a small hill for no reason, to climb something, to sit on a swing and look at the sky. To laugh and move without needing to win or burn calories.

The idea of designing for adult play isn’t about turning cities into playgrounds. It’s about allowing space for delight, for silliness, for slowing down and reconnecting with nature, with movement, and with each other.

Maybe it starts with a question: What if there were more places where grown-ups could play too?

I’d love to hear what you think. Have you ever felt this way in a public space - like you wanted to jump, swing, or climb, but held back? What kind of spaces would make you feel more alive, more playful?

Let’s keep this conversation going - because play doesn’t need an age limit, just a little more room.