Maximum City

Around the world cities are preparing for a summer of play. Our research shows that children and youth need to play this summer in order to restore their mental and physical health. From the Argentina to Scotland to here in Canada, find out who else is championing a summer of play, and find some ideas for your own summer of play, no matter your age or ability!

Summer school with play

New York’s Summer Rising Program provides students in all grades with academic support for part of the day, and indoor/outdoor play with field trips for the rest of the day. Many organizations across the UK have come together in support of a summer of play to give children the space, time and freedom to play all summer long. Scotland in particular has declared a nationwide summer of play, with over £20 million to offer community-based services to students and provide access to sports fields and schools.

closing streets for play

In Philadelphia’s Playstreets Program, 300 streets are closed to traffic on summer weekdays, and filled with food, music and misting tents. Jobs for teens and young adults are also on offer and literacy and math activities such as book wagons and arithmetic lessons form part of the activities for kids and youth. New York’s StreetLab program offers homework help, obstacle courses, chalk and other interactive activities in the pedestrian-friendly Open Streets. In London, UK, the Play Streets program will be back this summer, which involves regularly closing the street to vehicular traffic and opening it to play. For ideas on bringing outdoor play into your life, check out Outdoor Play Canada, and explore their Active Toy Guide to keep the outdoor fun going all summer long!

Pop Up Play

Chicago Mobile Makers offers workshops and take-home kits to children and youth and the opportunity to build their own art on the asphalt at pop-ups in plazas and community gardens across the city. In Vancouver, pop-up plazas featuring ping pong tables, picnic benches and outdoor fitness equipment have emerged during the pandemic. Check out Saskatchewan’s Adventure Calendar for easy pop-up play activities you can do from home. For those in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the ‘MiniMuseos’ program offers children’s workshops, story telling and shows in the gardens of several museums around the city.

hopping downtowns

Don’t miss the Summer of Play on the Bentway in Toronto, where art installations, an interactive “Play Path” with games and other surprises, and roaming experiences to discover and enjoy. Montreal is also planning an event-filled summer for tourists and locals alike, with circus and dance performances, documentary viewings and an Indigenous art exhibit all on the agenda.

Pedestrian-Friendly Streets

Toronto’s ActiveTO program closes major streets to vehicular traffic on certain days and times to promote active transportation and non-motorized commuting. Edmonton, Halifax, and Vancouver are among the cities which have also closed streets to vehicular traffic along with other measures like making it easier to get outdoor patios approved, expanded sidewalk widths, and reduced pedestrian crossing wait times.

Outdoor Fitness

ParkFitTO is offering Torontonians group fitness classes, walking programs, and the chance to book your own outdoor gym. There is free yoga at City Hall in Hamilton this summer, and in Edmonton you can take dance, full-body workout, or classes for older adults at green spaces near the city’s recreation centres. For more ideas on outdoor play for all ages, check out these resources from Outdoor Play Canada.