Strategy aims to have play areas in all parishes

Deputy Malcolm Ferey said the strategy was focused on outdoor and indoor play areas

A year-long study aims to provide play areas in all 12 parishes across Jersey.

Assistant minister Deputy Malcolm Ferey, who is leading the study, said during a States sitting the strategy aimed to make sure young people of all ages had somewhere to play in the island.

Work has started this month on a new playground and the refurbishment of an older one in St Helier, and an outdoor skate park at Les Quennevais has proved popular since its opening in 2023.

Ferey said the strategy was focused on outdoor and indoor play areas and the work would be a key document to "advocate for long-term plans to ensure that play spaces are available and protected".

He said: "We're also looking at the opportunities for pop-up play spaces, so that play spaces can be brought to where young people are and encouraged to play.

"We're looking at play rangers to again encourage and facilitate play and teach parents how to play."

'Not very imaginative'

Deputy Hilary Jeune, questioning Mr Ferey during the states sitting, said she believed Jersey did not have enough places where children could be encouraged to take risks in safe spaces.

She said: "Many of the play spaces are not very imaginative, they're quite risk averse, bar one new one which is quite innovative.

"They don't have that imagination and that kind of sense of adventure that many of the play areas have in big capital cities."

Ferey said the theme of risk-taking in a safe environment chimed with the views of young people he had spoken to for the study.

He said: "Lots of young people mentioned about having a play park which does have an element of risk of controlled risk.

"Also, they were really keen to make sure that young people with disabilities had access [and] young people with neurodivergence had the right play spaces for them."