Public space · August 2026

Why Do We Need Play Spaces?

When we talk about play spaces, many people imagine swings, slides, and children running around.

But a good play space is never just for children.

It is where parents stop and chat while waiting for their children. Where grandparents sit in the shade and watch the neighbourhood come alive. Where teenagers gather after school. Where neighbours who used to pass each other without a word slowly become familiar faces.These everyday moments might seem small, but they are what make a neighbourhood feel like home.

At Doh Eain, projects like Alley Gardens in Downtown Yangon and Mya Marlar Park: Girl Led Placemaking Project were never simply about building playgrounds. They were about creating opportunities for people to connect, interact, and take ownership of the spaces around them.

We often forget that cities are not only made up of buildings and roads. They are also made up of the relationships that happen between people. The small conversations, shared moments, and everyday encounters that build trust over time.

We have seen this happen through our own work. A forgotten alley becomes a place where children can safely play. An empty corner becomes a space where neighbours gather. A neglected area becomes somewhere people feel proud of and want to take care of.

Children are usually the first to arrive, but they are rarely the only ones who benefit. Parents stay longer. Older residents find a place to rest. Local businesses see more activity. Neighbours begin interacting with one another. Slowly, a physical space becomes part of the social fabric of the community.

This idea is increasingly supported by research around the world.

A recent study by New York University's Institute for Public Knowledge and Gehl highlights the importance of what they call social infrastructure such as the parks, libraries, community centres, streets, and public spaces that allow people to connect in everyday life.

The research found that these spaces play an important role in reducing loneliness, strengthening trust, and building a sense of belonging. In one of the communities studied, 75% of people using outdoor public spaces reported feeling less lonely, while 81% of respondents in another community reported gathering with others in public spaces.

The lesson is simple: public spaces are not a luxury. They are an essential part of creating healthier and more resilient communities.

But creating meaningful public spaces is not about simply designing something beautiful and placing it in a neighbourhood.

It starts with listening.

One approach that has influenced many placemakers around the world is the Place Game, developed by Project for Public Spaces (PPS). <https://www.pps.org/>; <https://www.pps.org/article/place-game-community>;

The idea behind it is simple:

The community is the expert.

Instead of assuming what a place needs, the Place Game encourages people to observe how a space is actually being used. Anyone can participate, not just architects, planners, or designers. The people who live, work, and spend time there are often the ones who understand the space best.

The Place Game looks at four important qualities of a public space: whether it is easy to access and move through, whether it feels safe and welcoming, whether there are enough activities and reasons for people to stay, and whether it encourages people to meet and connect with one another.

Often, the answers are not complicated.

Maybe people are sitting on the ground because there are not enough benches. Maybe children are playing in an unsafe corner because there is nowhere else to go. Maybe a space needs more trees, shade, lighting, or simple activities to encourage people to stay longer.

Small changes can create big impacts.

A great example of this is the Khlong Toei Community Lantern in Bangkok. <https://www.archdaily.com/212214/klong-toey-community-lantern-tyin-tegnestue-architects>;

Located in one of Bangkok's largest informal settlements, Khlong Toei is home to more than 140,000 residents, many of whom face challenges including limited access to public services and safe community spaces.

Instead of arriving with a finished design, the architects from TYIN Tegnestue spent over a year getting to know the community, listening to residents, and understanding how the neighbourhood was already being used.

Through workshops with local residents, an underused parking area was transformed into a simple but flexible structure that became many things at once: a playground, a stage, a gathering place, and a place for people to sit and interact.

What made the project successful was not its size or complexity. It was the process.

The community was involved from the beginning, and the final design reflected what people actually needed and valued including keeping the football field that was already an important part of neighbourhood life.

This is something that strongly resonates with how we work at Doh Eain.Before we design, we observe. Before we propose solutions, we listen.We look at how people move through a neighbourhood, where children naturally gather, where conversations happen, and what communities feel they are missing.Because the people who use a place every day understand it better than anyone else.

As Myanmar's cities continue to grow, we need to think beyond buildings and infrastructure. We need to think about the spaces in between the parks, alleys, playgrounds, and gathering places where everyday life happens.

These spaces are not leftover spaces. They are where children grow through play. Where neighbours build trust. Where communities become stronger and more resilient.

At the end of the day, a successful play space is not measured by the number of swings or slides it contains. It is measured by whether people choose to spend time there, whether they return, and whether they feel that the space belongs to them.

Because that is when a public space becomes more than just a place.

It becomes part of the community.

Looking to create meaningful spaces for communities? Get in touch with us to explore opportunities for collaboration and placemaking.