Making Space for Play: Play with Risk

PLAY WITH RISK Designing opportunities for risk taking in play

MAKING SPACE FOR PLAY: Volume Five

ARCHES PLAYGROUND GENE LEAHY MALL OMAHA, NE

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WHO WE ARE STUDIO LUDO is a 501(c)3 woman led non-profit founded in 2015 whose mission

is building better play through research, advocacy, and design.

We are architects, landscape architects, city planners, and social scientists who have collected user demographics, physical activity, and play behavior data on over 60,000 people in 100 play environments in the US and UK. This dataset is the most current picture of behavior and user preference in play environments in the world, and directly influences all of our play space designs, from rooftops, to schoolyards, to neighborhood parks, to large scale destination playgrounds.

WHY PLAY “Falling down is part of life. Getting back up is living.”

- Jose N. Harris Play is how we learn about life. It is a safe space where we try, fail, and try again, growing into our best selves.

Adventurers, risk takers, and innovators are grown from childhoods of skinned knees, climbing trees, and rough and tumble play. Learning how to dust ourselves off as kids supports long-term emotional stability, physical wellness, and health and happiness throughout life.

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OUR RESEARCH After studying the play behavior of over 60,000 people in 100 different play environments, we have created the checklist of a great place to play.

We know that people enjoy being at Great Heights and moving at High Speeds.

They love Swinging, the most popular activity for all ages, and Climbing, the second most popular. They like having agency to change their environment with Loose Parts and Water Play.

They prefer playing in a Location close to home (1/2 mile), with Supports like benches, tables, and restrooms, in an immersive natural environment with Trees, preferably mature, and a sense of Enclosure with planting or fences.

OUR REFERENCES People crave movement, joy, and connection. Our research shows that there are common play experiences that people of all ages gravitate to. Several other researchers, most notably Dr. Mariana Brussoni and Dr. Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter, have studied play and quantified a specific type of behavior they call risky play.

Dr. Brussoni focuses on injury prevention in youth and has found that engaging in risky play, particularly in an outdoor setting, can actually reduce the risk of injury.

Dr. Sandseter, in her thesis ‘Scary Funny - A Qualitative Study of Risky Play’, developed 6 categories of risky play, defining what risky play is and why kids do it.

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ARCHES PLAYGROUND GENE LEAHY MALL OMAHA, NE

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ARCHES PLAYGROUND GENE LEAHY MALL OMAHA, NE

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PLAY WITH RISK Dr. Sandseter defines risky play as playing: at Great Heights, at Rapid Speeds, with Dangerous Tools, with Dangerous Elements, at Rough and Tumble, and at Disappearing/Getting Lost.

These definitions align with our own findings and the checklist of a great place to play. This booklet expands on how our combined research informed the design of one of our large-scale design projects - the Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, part of the Omaha Riverfront Revitalization, designed in partnership with OJB Landscape Architecture, the City of Omaha, the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA), and HDR.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT When you take a risk, your brain changes. Risky play combines fun and stress - supercharging brain development. It can be stressful to climb all the way to the top of a climbing wall or tower, but learning to handle the stress makes you more resilient to future pressures.

Risky play develops executive function, the parts of your brain in charge of decision making. Bumps and scrapes are the feedback you need to make better choices. The only way to learn how to make good decisions is to practice making decisions.

LET’S BRING RISK BACK INTO PLAY! 7

ENTRY

T PL

CAREGIVER SEATING EMBANKMENT SLIDES & SCRAMBLES

FACETED DECK ARCH CLIMBERS

ROPE FOREST (BELOW FACET)

CLIMBING SLOPE

CAREGIVER SEATING

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PLAY AT ARCHES The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall is a destination play space that provides balanced risk-taking opportunities for all ages, while still aligning with play safety guidelines.

TREES & LANTING

Rolling Hills of artificial turf make up the bottom layer of the playground, providing accessibility and play.

ROLLING HILL

BOULDERING CAVE (BELOW FACET)

The Faceted Deck, with the Rope Forest and Bouldering Cave below, folds across the site creating interconnected play loops and shaded coves for play. The lower level is easily accessed via the Embankment Slides and Scrambles at the entrance.

The Arch Climbers bridge over the facet, growing in height and complexity to encourage play for all ages.

Caregiver Seating is provided with boulder slabs, benches, and tables placed to ensure clear lines of sight to play features and build social connections, while surrounded by Trees and Plantings for an immersive natural play experience for the whole family.

GREAT HEIGHTS

The Arches Playground provides a diversity of opportunities that build strength and character. The Bouldering Cave and Rope Forest supercharge Gross and Fine Motor development with a variety of climbing types, holds, and surfaces. The Arch Climbers support Courage and Bravery through graduated risk taking. Self Confidence is grown across the site with diverse challenges and Great Heights.

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SELF CONFIDENCE Achieving great heights gives a huge boost of physical confidence

GROSS & FINE MOTOR Climbing supercharges hand, core, arm, & leg strength

COURAGE & BRAVERY Testing limits at great heights supports the development of grit & resilience

HIGH SPEEDS

The Arches Playground has a variety of play experiences that supports Proprioceptive Growth and Vestibular Development. These include swinging on the Tot and Community Swings, sliding on the Embankment Slides in the playground and the adjacent renovated Twin Slides, and running, sliding, and leaping on the Faceted Deck.

High movement play brings Stress Relief for all ages by releasing endorphins and lowering cortisol.

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VESTIBULAR DEVELOPMENT Moving quickly develops healthy balance, posture, & coordination

PROPRIOCEPTIVE GROWTH Diverse movements support body awareness, motor control, & self regulation

STRESS RELIEF Playing at rapid speeds releases ‘feel good’ chemicals that keep us happy & healthy

ROUGH & TUMBLE

The Arches Playground has plenty of space to explore and test boundaries, which encourages Social Skill building. The Arch Climbers and Bouldering Cave provide for deep pressure activities like climbing, pushing, and pulling, also known as heavy work, that provide the inputs needed for healthy Sensory Processing. Large scale movement like leaping, spinning, and flipping upside down help with Emotional Regulation for people of all ages.

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SOCIAL SKILLS Energetic play gives a platform to test physical & social boundaries

SENSORY PROCESSING Varied sensory inputs, like resistance & impact activities, build healthy brains & bodies

EMOTIONAL REGULATION Big feelings can be managed through big body movements

LOST & FOUND

The Arches Playground has a single entrance, low fencing, and dense planting that provide a sense of Enclosure, ensuring caregiver comfort to give children freedom to roam. Exploring under the Faceted Deck and inside the Arch Climbers supports Thrill Seeking. Discovering complex environments like the Rope Forest and Play Tunnels foster Critical Thinking and Resilience, building confidence, curiosity, and problem solving.

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THRILL SEEKING Feeling ‘lost’ in a safe space fosters independence & self reliance

CRITICAL THINKING New or complex environments promote exploration, curiosity, & problem solving

RESILIENCE As we grow, exploring beyond our caregivers builds confidence & grit

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IMAGES COVER The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo PAGE 2 The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Dan Schwalm PAGE 5 The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Joshua Spitzig PAGE 6 The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Dan Schwalm PAGES 8/9 The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Jeff Durkin PAGE 11 Top Center- The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: MECA Top Right- The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Omaha World Herald Center Left- The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Millicent Harvey Center- The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Dan Schwalm Lower Left- The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Dan Schwalm Lower Right- The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Dan Schwalm PAGE 13 Top Left - The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Omaha World Herald Top Right - The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Omaha World Herald Center - The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Omaha World Herald Center Right - The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Omaha World Herald Lower Left - The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Oh My Omaha Lower Center - The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Landscape Structures PAGE 15 Top Left - The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Jeff Durkin Top Center - The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Landscape Structures Center - The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Landscape Structures Center Right - The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Jeff Durkin Lower Left - The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Landscape Structures Lower Right - The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Dan Jost PAGE 17 Top Left - The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Dan Schwalm Top Right - The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Jeff Durkin Center Left- The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Fox Flight Center - The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Dan Schwalm Lower Center - The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Millicent Harvey Lower Right - The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Ryan Fischer PAGE 18 The Arches Playground at Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE, Photo Credit: Joshua Spitzig

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RESOURCES London Study of Playgrounds: The Influence of Design on Play Behavior in London vs New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, ISSUU, 2017. Studio Ludo, Talarowski M. National Study of Playgrounds: The Influence of Design on Use and Physical Activity, in 60 Playgrounds in 10 US Cities, ISSUU, 2022. Studio Ludo, Cohen D, Talarowski M, Han B, Williamson S, Galfond E, Young D, Eng S, McKenzie T. Playground Design and Physical Activity, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2022. Cohen D, Talarowski M, Han B, Williamson S, Galfond E, Young D, Eng S, McKenzie T. Innovative Playgrounds: Use, Physical Activity and Implications for Health, Public Health, 2019. Talarowski M, Cohen DA, Williamson S, Han B. The First National Study of Neighborhood Parks: Implications for Physical Activity, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2016. Cohen D, Han B, Nagel C, Harnik P, McKenzie T, Evenson K, Marsh T, Williamson S, Vaughan C, Katta S. Playground Design: Contribution to Duration of Stay and Implications for Physical Activity, Environmental Research and Public Health, 2023. Cohen D, Talarowski M, Han B, Williamson S, Galfond E, Young D, Eng S, McKenzie T. Playground Locations and Patterns of Use, Journal of Urban Health, 2023. Young D, McKenzie T, Eng S, Talarowski M, Han B, Williamson S, Galfond E, Cohen D. Scary Funny - A Qualitative Study of Risky Play, Norwegian University of Science and Technology Department of Psychology, 2010, Sandseter, E. Risky Play and Children’s Safety: Balancing Priorities for Optimal Child Development, International Journal Environmental Research and Public Health, 2012, Brussoni M, Olsen L, Pike I, Sleet D.

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“THE MORE

RISKS CHILDREN TO TAKE YOU ALLOW

THE BETTER

THEY

LEARN

TO TAKE CARE

OF THEMSELVES.” ROALD DAHL

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© STUDIO LUDO 2025