PLAYSCAPE Waterloo Region

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PLAYSCAPE Waterloo Region

• A socially innovative tool for engaging children,
  youth and their families in meeting immediate
  play needs in their neighbourhoods.

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Presentation Outline

• Background
• Issue Purpose
• Scope and Limitations
• Demonstration
• Narrative 3 scenarios
• Significant Considerations
• Analysis
• Take Home Message

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Background Access to Recreation for All Youth

• Opportunities Waterloo Region, with funding from
  the Ministry of Health Promotions Communities in
  Action Fund, conducted an environmental scan of
  recreational assets for youth (ages 6-17 yrs) in
  the Region of Waterloo.

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Background Access to Recreation for All Youth

• From the data collected and with funding
  assistance from Lyle S. Hallman Foundation,
  Opportunities has created an on-line directory of
  recreation resources, Playscape Waterloo Region,
  in response to community consultations which
  indicated a resource directory as a top priority.

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Issue Purpose

• Extracurricular activities contribute
  holistically to a childs healthy and positive
  development
• Public commitment to youth recreation programs
  has waned.
• Contrary to public opinion, research on the cost
  / benefits of publicly funded programs indicates
  the social and individual benefits far out-weigh
  the financial costs. (Browne, Roulston, Ewart,
  Schuster, Edward, Boily, 2001).
• Local recreation research indicates the best
  recreation activity and programs begin at the
  local level (R. McCarville T. Glover Healthy
  Communities Research Network).

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Scope and Limitations

• Universal access is the preferred recreation and
  play model.
• Playscape is accessible to all through
  community-based internet access points.

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PLAYSCAPE Waterloo Region Demonstration
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Narrative 1

• Janice and Bob are retired and excited that
  Emily, their 5 year old granddaughter is coming
  to spend two weeks with them this summer. They
  want to find some activities for Emily to do
  while she is here, but they havent been involved
  with childrens activities for 30 years.
• www.playscapewr.ca

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Narrative 2

• Dan and Sherri and their 2 young kids , Ben and
  Alice, are newcomers to the Region of Waterloo.
  Ben is 8 years old and likes basketball, Alice is
  11 and likes to paint.
• www.playscapewr.ca

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Narrative 3

• A group of young parents, as immigrants in a new
  place, are looking for ways to become engaged in
  their new community and ensure their children
  have the opportunity to form vital social
  networks. An ESL class has brought them together.
  
• www.playscapewr.ca

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Significant Considerations

• Opportunities research has shown that the Region
  of Waterloo is rich in recreation and play
  assets, however, there are pockets of
  under-serviced areas, and a variety of needs to
  be met, such as time constraints and
  transportation to activities.
• Strength-based projects develop a communitys
  capacity to meet need, and build stronger social
  connections which enhance individual and
  community well being.
• Parents are often faced with time constraints and
  prioritizing the most urgent family needs often
  at the cost of quality play time for children.

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Analysis

• Time PlayscapeWR uses internet technology to
  network and access information in a timely
  manner. Neighbourhood families can pool their
  talents and resources to meet local play and
  recreation need in their time frames.
• Local Resources Neighbourhood families can
  access information about local resources such as
  school facilities and make plans with other
  families for informal play.
• Community Development Work together to develop
  their own programs by accessing information about
  funders, municipal resources and volunteer
  development organizations.

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Details

• Funders
• Ministry of Health Promotion, Communities in
  Action fund (CIAF) Lyle S. Hallman Foundation,
  Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation.
• Potential Partners
• Municipalities, School boards, Libraries,
  Waterloo Region Active Living Network (WRALN),
  Alliance for Children and Youth.

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Take Home Message

• Prevention is the focus of this socially
  innovative project by providing families, youth
  and neighbourhoods with social networking tools
  and access to information on one website, to
  enhance community capacity building through
  social networking.
• Playscape changes the social environment,
  promotes health, skills awareness and provides
  supports.
• Playscape is a universal model. All children can
  benefit.
• Community well-being is sustained because
  children will learn the importance of strong
  networks, how to build their own networks and how
  to become engaged citizens.

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Take Home Message

• The best investment of 1.00 is to invest in
  developing just one friendship.
• PLAYSCAPE is such an investment.

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Questions?