Glasgow gets ready for Street Play play dates

Children across Glasgow are looking forward to play dates this weekend as part of the Street Play's Midsummer Big Weekender.

Communities in the south, west and east of the city are all taking full advantage of the offer of a free road closure to allow children to play in a traffic free environment over the course of this weekend (June 21-23).

This weekend is one of four weekends Glasgow City Council has allocated for Street Play with the aim of encouraging as many community-based organisations and residents to get involved in safe play in local streets close to home.

Over the course of June 21-23 a total of nine neighbourhoods will be enjoying the space created by a properly managed road closure to let children play sports, traditional street games or just run free in the street without the usual road safety concerns. It's also a chance for adults to get together in their community for an informal street party, without the stress of worrying about children playing directly outside their homes.

Councillor Anna Richardson, City Convener of Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, hopes to visit as many of the play dates as possible and she is delighted new communities are coming on board with the scheme.

Councillor Richardson said: "The midsummer weekend has been traditionally been the time for Street Play and it's great to see familiar names in the list of streets taking part again this year.

"But it is also fantastic that new communities are getting involved in different parts of the city.

"Street Play is all about creating safe places for children to play in their communities. With cars and other vehicles put in the back seat for a day, there's real feeling of freedom for the children. Street Play creates a fun and relaxed environment for children and parents alike and helps to bring all the members of a community closer together."

"There's so much enjoyment parents take from watching their children run around without a care in the world or riding a bike for the first time. The great thing is that if you need anything then you can just nip back inside the house."

After this weekend, there are two further Street Play weekends this year - July 19-21 and September 20-22. Applications for July 19-21 have to be submitted by July 1.

For further information on how to apply go to the Street Play page on the council's website.

The full list of Street Play sessions is:-

Newhills Road, Baillieston ward, June 22, 9am-3pm

Carment Drive, Pollokshields ward, June 21-22, 3pm, June 21 to 10pm, June 22.

Arundel Drive, Langside ward, June 22, 11am-5pm

Elrig Road, Newlands/Auldburn Ward, June 22, 2pm-4pm

Archerhill Road, Garscadden/Scotstounhill ward, June 22, 12pm-4pm.

Skirving Street, Langside ward, June 23, 12noon-5pm.

Regent Park Square, Pollokshields ward, June 23, 9am-8pm.

Queen Margaret Drive, Hillhead ward, June 23, 9am-7pm.

Rhannan Road, Linn ward, June 23, 1pm-4pm.