Can I use the playground of a council estate if we don't live there?

[Mummy1608]

Quick question...

I live right outside a really big council estate. (Eg I walk through it everyday as a shortcut to my local train station, that's how close I am and how big it is.) It's got a lovely playground in it with lots of cool climbing bits etc. Can I go there with my DD or do you think it's frowned on if I don't live there, because it's meant to be for residents? I can't find anywhere whether this isn't allowed, but it might be technically allowed but still frowned on? My next nearest playground is much smaller (although always empty) and a 15 min walk away.

Tldr can I take my dd to the council estate playground?

Of course you can.
And public bins are for anyone passing to drop litter in.

Yes, it's fine Everyone pays council tax for playgrounds anyway plus your children might make new friends

Often there is a little collection box at the gate for those who don't live in council houses to make a donation to upkeep of the park. So stick a quid in that and use it guilt free!

In a council provided playpark, paid for by council tax, that every resident pays for? Is there really?

@HadaVerde

I’ve posted an excerpt upthread from Islington council regarding the use of communal facilities provided for tenants.

What I’m saying isn’t my opinion, it’s how things work on estates like that with shared communal facilities.

I’ve had similar in my own tenancy agreements too. Wording that outlines your entitlement to use said facilities and even a part about your own visitors also being able to use them under your supervision and that you are responsible for any damage caused by your visitors.

These types of facilities really aren’t for the use of the general public.

What you actually quoted says the opposite.

3.1 Communal green spaces owned by the council in our capacity as a social housing landlord form part of the estate or block they are associated with. They are distinguished from open spaces, parks or other public land open to members of the public by clearly defined boundaries"

Communal green spaces (i.e. the communal gardens for flats) form part of the estate or block (and have clearly defined boundaries - i.e. fenced off and only accessible to residents.)

They are separate to "open spaces, parks or other public land open to members of the public".

It is the park, which is public land open to members of the public which OP wishes to use, not the gated communal gardens attached to the blocks of flats.

I don't think anyone would suggest that it would be OK for OP to scale the fence and have her children start playing in the fenced off communal gardens of the flats! She just wants to use the public play park, which just so happens to have been built surrounded by roads of council houses/flats, and is open to everyone.

@BoredZelda

Often there is a little collection box at the gate for those who don't live in council houses to make a donation to upkeep of the park. So stick a quid in that and use it guilt free!

In a council provided playpark, paid for by council tax, that every resident pays for? Is there really?

Wtf?

That would be swiped (in any playground at all) every day!

@HadaVerde

A playground within the grounds of a council estate is for residents use.

A playground in a park or on a recreational field or similar is obviously for general public use.

Would you use the bins on a council estate too?

This is hilarious! I think you may be misunderstanding the concept of public amenities. And yes, if I was walking through a council estate and I had a sweet wrapper to throw away, I'd put it in a bin. Not someone's wheelie bin obviously, but a public bin.

I googled the exercpt and from Islington council

They are actively encouraging access to their playgrounds for ALL children

If it is not for public use there will be a sign saying so. Otherwise, it's for everyone.

@Pazuzu

Sounding like a few posters don't want the poor children to play on their naice playgrounds.

Can't believe that this has hit 10 pages. At least it gives some tabloid journalist an easy article.

Where have you got that from? You’re reading a different thread to me

I'm wondering if you're not originally from the UK HadaVerde?

I have only started using the word playground to mean a public space for kids with swing, slide etc since I moved to Germany because I now have friends from various countries who understand something different by "park". When I lived in the UK I would always have called that a park, playground to me meant the paved part of the grounds of a school, whether or not it has play equipment in it (most schools didn't where/when I grew up).

I don't have a general word for a large public open green space - I would refer to a specific one by its name, for example I gew up near Leamington Spa and we had Jephson Gardens, which is what we called it (Or just Jephson's). Within Jephson Gardens, there are two play areas, which I call parks. So I might say to my friend "I'll meet you at the big park in Jephson Gardens".

I think this is fairly standard usage in the UK, I've never heard anybody using these words differently. It was only when I moved out of the UK that I realised park means an open green space somewhere else and the word for a place for children is playground or play area.

Parks (play areas) are generally public and anybody can use them unless they are specifically gated inside a private area. IME most people have a variety of local parks they visit, and either the one closest to their house, or a biggish central one near their house is the one that they tend to socialise and meet friends at. That doesn't make it exclusive for their use as it usually is on several other families' rotations.

Kids like variety, they'd get bored going to the same old park every time.

@Wheelz46

Surely if it was for residents only then there would be a sign up stating 'residents only'

There most certainly would!

I live on a council estate, but my home has been sold off so I own privately. @HadaVerde are my children allowed to use the playground opposite my house?

[quote Toanewstart23]The excerpt is from Islington council doc

Very explicitly their playgrounds are open to all if you google

In fact… they even promote how open some of them are to all!

www.islington.gov.uk/~/media/sharepoint-lists/public-records/childrenandfamiliesservices/information/leaflets/20202021/20210112islingtonadventureplaygroundsleafletaccessibleupdate2021.pdf[/quote]
Lol just to confuse things further you go and add adventure playgrounds to the mix 🤣

Yeah they arent on social housing estates.

[quote Bluemonkey2029]@HadaVerde out of interest, what is your definition of a park and what is your definition of a playground?

Where I'm from you have play park (aka playground) which is more commonly called 'the park' and also we have parks which are large green spaces - also called 'the park'.[/quote]
Yep, I live in the North West and also call the playground "the park" and the place with trees and grass "the park".
HadaVerde you are so wrong. I used to work for 2 different housing associations and both let anyone use their parks/playground.

@HadaVerde

You are wrong. Plain and simple.

Those tendency agreements and those exerpers refer to gated gardens or equipment which "belongs" to a block of flats or similar. One where the private garden is included in the rent/tenancy of council tenants.

When they build an estate, and then plonk a playpark in it, in an open space, that playpark is for public use by all children and it included in the council's accounting for public recreation.

A gated, private garden associated with blocks of flats or 4 in a block houses is different.

You are wrong about the playpark.

Toanewstart23

I currently live in social housing.

@HadaVerde

Toanewstart23

I currently live in social housing.

It was listed from Islington I copied and pasted!

Islington goes almost overboard with saying how playgrounds open to all. Not once, not even a hint, do they say only for residents.

You are wrong

@Mummy1608

Quick question...

I live right outside a really big council estate. (Eg I walk through it everyday as a shortcut to my local train station, that's how close I am and how big it is.) It's got a lovely playground in it with lots of cool climbing bits etc. Can I go there with my DD or do you think it's frowned on if I don't live there, because it's meant to be for residents? I can't find anywhere whether this isn't allowed, but it might be technically allowed but still frowned on? My next nearest playground is much smaller (although always empty) and a 15 min walk away.

Tldr can I take my dd to the council estate playground?

Basically it's doubtful if anyone would notice unless it's a community where everyone knows everyone, in general as long as you look like your ment to be part of the area, it's doubtful anyone would notice

In any event

Think how un PC it would be!!

Keeping the residents separated from the non council playgrounds

@BertieBotts

I'm wondering if you're not originally from the UK HadaVerde?

I have only started using the word playground to mean a public space for kids with swing, slide etc since I moved to Germany because I now have friends from various countries who understand something different by "park". When I lived in the UK I would always have called that a park, playground to me meant the paved part of the grounds of a school, whether or not it has play equipment in it (most schools didn't where/when I grew up).

I don't have a general word for a large public open green space - I would refer to a specific one by its name, for example I gew up near Leamington Spa and we had Jephson Gardens, which is what we called it (Or just Jephson's). Within Jephson Gardens, there are two play areas, which I call parks. So I might say to my friend "I'll meet you at the big park in Jephson Gardens".

I think this is fairly standard usage in the UK, I've never heard anybody using these words differently. It was only when I moved out of the UK that I realised park means an open green space somewhere else and the word for a place for children is playground or play area.

Parks (play areas) are generally public and anybody can use them unless they are specifically gated inside a private area. IME most people have a variety of local parks they visit, and either the one closest to their house, or a biggish central one near their house is the one that they tend to socialise and meet friends at. That doesn't make it exclusive for their use as it usually is on several other families' rotations.

Kids like variety, they'd get bored going to the same old park every time.

That's really interesting - would you mind saying which region of the UK you lived in? No problem if not, of course - but I'm fascinated as I'm also from the UK but use those terms the other way around: a park is a big open green area, and the bit within that space, with all the fun stuff for kids, is a playground!

I'm from East Anglia, so curious if it's a regional difference (language nerd, me)?

The ‘council estate’ in our village, all three streets of it, contains the village play park, which belongs to the parish council, not the local authority. It’s for the whole village. It’s just happens to be that you need to walk on the ‘council estate’ paths and roads to get to it!

Toanewstart23

You posted a link about adventure playgrounds in Islington.

Adventure playgrounds have absolutely nothing to do with this thread.

www.larga.co.uk/donations there are donation boxes at the park in the very naice area near to us (yes I have used the park and shamefully am yet to donate yet!) No idea if they've been vandalised as haven't been there very often.

What about children who live in a council property but not on an estate? My road has a bunch of Victorian houses. Some are done up well fancy and sell for £900 thousand or so. Some were bought up by the council post ww2 and are currently council properties.
Where do these children play....