Think about the last time you exercised outside. Maybe it was a refreshing jog through a park, a spontaneous football match with friends, or a calming yoga session in a quiet green space. What made that experience enjoyable?
Was it the fresh air, the openness of the space, or the simple fact of feeling your body move around free? Public spaces play a huge role in shaping how we move, exercise, and connect with others through sports, and often it’s the little things—like shade, privacy, or a simple park bench—that make all the difference.
Staying active is essential to our physical and mental well-being. Just like eating and drinking, it’s something we all experience differently, depending on our preferences, cultures, and the spaces we inhabit. For some, it’s a daily morning run or a quick workout at the local outdoor gym. For others, it’s team sports like basketball or football, or more meditative practices like yoga. In warm climates, the appeal of taking a dip in a lake or sea might be part of a sports routine, while in colder places, jogging through a frosty park might be more typical.
Doing sports in public spaces isn’t just about fitness; it’s about creating an environment that encourages movement in all its forms and allows for the social benefits of doing sports: having fun together and strengthening a community. Whether it's a solo workout or a shared game, the design of these spaces can either invite people in or unintentionally push them away.
What makes a public space truly great for sports isn’t just the presence of equipment or designated courts; it’s the space's ability to accommodate different forms of activity. Maybe you’re someone who likes doing push-ups on a park bench or using the edge of a wall for stretching. Public spaces should be flexible and open to a wide variety of activities.
It’s easy to think of good public spaces for sports as simply areas filled with equipment: outdoor gyms, running tracks, basketball courts. But what really makes a space inviting for sports goes beyond that.
For starters, it’s about giving people the freedom to adjust and appropriate spaces for their activities. Can a bench double as gym equipment for push-ups? Can the sturdy trunk of a tree offer support for stretching? Can an empty square serve as a football field for a group of teenagers? The best public spaces allow people to transform them creatively, offering opportunities for both structured exercise and spontaneous movement.
There’s also the need for privacy and exposure, a balance that is crucial for many. Some might feel energised running through a busy park, while others prefer quieter spots for their workouts. Feeling exposed to heavy traffic, or exercising in full view of a crowd, can discourage people from engaging in sports in public. Similarly, the quality of air matters: are you inhaling fresh park air, or fumes from nearby traffic? How well-maintained is the space? Is there greenery, or are you playing football on a concrete field under the scorching sun?
While outdoor exercise is fantastic, it becomes much less appealing if you’re running without shade on a hot day or caught in unexpected rain. Public spaces that are well-designed for sports consider shelter from weather extremes, whether through trees, shaded areas, or well-placed canopies.
That’s why our Good Public Space method isn’t just about installing the latest outdoor gym equipment. We also consider how adaptable a space is—can people use it for a variety of activities? Is it safe and welcoming? How well does it harmonise with nature, providing a pleasant environment for people to exercise? Does it offer enough privacy and freedom to make everyone feel comfortable?
A great example of a public space that caters to sports without being a traditional sports facility is the banks of the Seine in Paris. Once dominated by traffic, this space has been transformed into a vibrant public area where you can find people jogging, practising yoga, skateboarding, and even playing basketball. The success of this space lies not only in the design but also in its ability to be used in diverse ways. There’s plenty of open space, shaded areas, and even spots where people can sit by the water and stretch after a run.
While not every public space needs to tick all the boxes of a Good Public Space, we should aim to design areas that are flexible enough for people to use them as they see fit. Whether for a team sport, a solitary run, or a moment of meditation, these spaces must be welcoming and accessible to all.
Let’s take Het Plein in The Hague for instance. It’s a vibrant place for a drink in the city’s prime location, but what would happen if it was transformed into a place that also facilitates physical activity? By adding a green field or shade perhaps it could invite yoga lovers, football-thirsty teenagers or city joggers.
Do you use public spaces to do sports? Whether you’re stretching on a park bench or playing football with friends, the public spaces around us play a key role in making sure we can stay active, healthy, and happy.
This post is the fourth of nine chapters where we dive into our approach to creating Good Public Spaces and explore the elements of our model.
In the next part, we’ll unpack the joy of playing in public spaces. And that goes beyond just going down the slide.
So, how about a round of Kubb?
Stay tuned to discover more about how public spaces can support activities that are vital for our health and well-being!
Marta Nosowicz – Urban Planning Specialist
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