A project that brought ‘child’s play’ into the heart of Edgeley has won a national award.
‘On The Way Play SK’, a collaboration between Stockport Council, Civic and Social, Timberplay and children from Edgeley aimed to create child-friendly places, encourage active travel, and build social connections. The resulting schemes – A Child’s Eye View and Portable Playtime – have been in place in Edgeley since March 2024.
The project, led by Pauline Johnston, and based around Castle Street saw play equipment installed on the high street that featured giant snails, bears and tic tac toe for children and adults to interact with. It also worked alongside local children to co-design playful routes and highly visible prompts across the whole of Edgeley.
The partnership celebrated last week when its hard work saw it pick up a top accolade at the prestigious Pineapples awards, for ‘child-friendly place’ – recognising the project nationally as a scheme that “was able to empower children through engagement who could quickly see their contribution realised in the town centre, giving them ownership, agency and visibility in a space not typically associated with child’s play.”
It was also the first time the category was announced at The Pineapples and battled tough competition from larger schemes elsewhere in the UK.
More than 1,000 residents from 19 community organisations and schools, 15 businesses, plus 12 public events were part of developing the project, with pupils from Lark Hill and Our Lady’s Primary schools instrumental in bringing it to life through their ideas and local insights
