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?

@suzyscat

Usually residents only areas are gated with combination lock or residents are provided with a key.

This. Precisely to keep out the unwashed. If this isn't present, then its got to be insured for public access.

Otherwise it needs to be very well sign posted as a minimum.

If it doesn't have this, the council could be liable should anything happen and someone non resident gets injured due to the equipment not being maintained.

So no clear (well maintained) signs saying residents only and no physical restriction of access = anyone can use.

Of course it's fine for you to use it.

You're probably a ratepayer contributing to facilities such as playgrounds.

I’m in London and parks and playgrounds are the same thing most people I know call them parks; the only ones I would say you couldn’t use is there is one near us in the gates of a tower block but you would have to enter the building the use it, dds always asking to go to it as it looks great but it’s clearly for the residents so I’ve explained that to her, ones on publics streets are for anyone.

I can’t be the only one who has the ‘good’ playground slightly further away, which I’ll gladly absorb the extra journey time to in exchange for more P&Q whilst DS runs around on the better equipment?

@HadaVerde

Visiting friends who live there? Yes fine.

Using it cos it’s closer than another for public use playground? No of course it’s not ok.

I’m amazed people think this is ok.

Parks are for anyone who wishes to use them, where did you get this from? 🤔

@HadaVerde

Visiting friends who live there? Yes fine.

Using it cos it’s closer than another for public use playground? No of course it’s not ok.

I’m amazed people think this is ok.

Do you actually understand what a council estate is? It's public. A playground on a council estate IS a public use playground, funded by everyone's taxes, including the taxes of the OP as well as the taxes of the people who happen to live on that estate. It's not just for residents. It's public land for universal use. It's no different from taking your child to the park.

whispers

I once allowed my son to use a park in Switzerland.

How very dare i?

Thank you guys so much for the reassurance! Seems like most ppl think it's ok, whew 😅 I'm going to head there once dd wakes up from this late nap!

To the pp who mentioned making friends with the parents on the estate, yes definitely this is part of my motive! I live on a short road with mostly older neighbours and all my mum-friends are a proper bus ride away... it would be fab to make a friend closer by for more spontaneous playdates. But also this particular playground has got so much cool equipment in it, my dd is going to love it.

Thanks to everyone for your reassurance xxx

Curious if the people saying its not okay think the same the other way around? I live in a HA house, there's a street of privately owned "posh" houses next to us with a tiny play ground in. We use that one regularly because it's closest to our house, if someone told us we're not allowed I'd laugh and ignore it

So if you call a playground a park what do you call an actual park ( green space with trees etc)

Surely housing estates merge into eachother and are not surrounded by moats or anything. It's not always clear if a playground belongs to " the council estate" or ",,the 1980s Bovis Homes estate".
Of course you can use any playground.

A big park

@HadaVerde

Playgrounds and parks are exactly the same thing depending where in the country you are from

🤣 ok.

You're the only one who seems to think there different

@HadaVerde

Visiting friends who live there? Yes fine.

Using it cos it’s closer than another for public use playground? No of course it’s not ok.

I’m amazed people think this is ok.

@HadaVerde

What?

Why do you think she shouldn't use a public playground?

@LampLighter414

Never noticed donation boxes either, that would be hacked off within an hour.

Yes this has happened so a lot of them are upgrading to contactless payment posts.

What?! Where?

I know I’m a lone voice here but communal areas including playgrounds within social housing estates are for residents use and the general public ie non residents can be excluded.

They really aren’t for general public use.

Are we really acting like we don’t know the difference between a park and a playground.

There are no catchment areas for play parks :-D

@HadaVerde

I know I’m a lone voice here but communal areas including playgrounds within social housing estates are for residents use and the general public ie non residents can be excluded.

They really aren’t for general public use.

Why not? It’s not as if kids from elsewhere wear them out.

@Bitofachinwag

So if you call a playground a park what do you call an actual park ( green space with trees etc)

Surely housing estates merge into eachother and are not surrounded by moats or anything. It's not always clear if a playground belongs to " the council estate" or ",,the 1980s Bovis Homes estate".
Of course you can use any playground.

I think it's because a playground is also called a play park (or it was in my day/in the SW) which over time just got shortened to park.

An organisation I volunteer with helps look after a Council funded playground in our village. We've been told that the more people there are that use the playground the more likely it is that requests for new equipment etc will be approved. So we actively encourage people to visit!

@HadaVerde

I know I’m a lone voice here but communal areas including playgrounds within social housing estates are for residents use and the general public ie non residents can be excluded.

They really aren’t for general public use.

Still waiting for your evidence of this? Not just the made up rules in your mind.

@HadaVerde

I know I’m a lone voice here but communal areas including playgrounds within social housing estates are for residents use and the general public ie non residents can be excluded.

They really aren’t for general public use.

They really, REALLY are

Haha we have a mad woman on a local estate who runs out and shouts at any outsiders using the park.

She’s batshit and is the constant subject of posts about her nonsense on the local FB page.

I wonder if she’s posting on this thread…

Erm of course you can? Playgrounds are public and for everyone to use.

@HadaVerde

I know I’m a lone voice here but communal areas including playgrounds within social housing estates are for residents use and the general public ie non residents can be excluded.

They really aren’t for general public use.

They really are. If non-residents could be excluded there would be gates and signage to that effect. Bonkers.