I feel great empathy for parents who have become dependent on local playgrounds in Australia so that their children can have fun whilst exercising and socialising.

These things should be an essential part of a child’s life.

Many people drive to the playgrounds – especially the more-inviting adventure type  – because they are not conveniently local, or even if local, they feel it’s unsafe to walk or ride a bike there.

Once, a long while ago when I was a child, our quiet local suburban street was a safe and extremely convenient place to imaginatively and actively play. 

We need to refocus our attention and reclaim and remake our quiet local streets into family-safe places again. It can, and should, be a priority of state and local governments.