Rasquinet Play Park
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The Rasquinet Play Park project honors the origins of Rasquinet Park, which was born out of a citizen movement in the 1970s and 1980s aimed at transforming the former Rasquinet bicycle pedal factory site into a public park. During the early stages of this evolving park, a local priest initiated an adventure playground where neighborhood children could safely play away from the streets.

Rasquinet Play Park is a modern take on the adventure or junk playground concept (inspired by Sørensen), offering children the freedom to engage in creative play using various loose parts materials (as advocated by Nicholson) such as old tires, planks, pipes, pallets, bicycle tubes, water barrels, fabric scraps, and crates. Staying true to the junk playground tradition, the project primarily uses recycled materials. Unlike typical adventure playgrounds where children build with hammers and nails, the free play here focuses on moving, stacking, and connecting loose materials. This approach makes the activities more accessible to a diverse group of children, across different ages and genders, while also reducing the need for adult supervision. Rasquinet Play Park aims to foster free play in public spaces, with support from local adolescents serving as playworkers.

The Rasquinet Play Park is open from August 2024 until Sunday, September 8, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM (closed on Mondays) at Rasquinet Park in Brussels. All are welcome!

Rasquinet Play Park is organized by the Office for Public Play as part of Playcation 2024, in collaboration with the municipality of Schaerbeek (Urban Prevention Programme), with support from the Flemish Community Commission (VGC).

 

More photos on our Facebook page.