Designed for Play: Children’s Playgrounds and the Politics of Urban Space, 1840-2010

An original and accessible history of the modern playground in Britain and beyond. Charting its journey from marginal obscurity to popular ubiquity, this title demonstrates how a diverse set of actors across the philanthropic, voluntary, state and commercial sectors all sought to reimagine and reshape the urban landscape to improve childhood outcomes.

Jon Winder is a historian, geographer, and heritage practitioner. He has published work on urban environmental history, children’s geography, and the history of children’s playgrounds.