Informal Play, Formal Governance - A Risk–Benefit Framework for Council Land
 
The missing link between play advocacy and defensible governance.
Across parks, reserves, and public spaces, informal play is evolving — from rope swings and hut zones to mud kitchens and loose natural elements. While these environments unlock creativity, challenge, and community ownership, they also introduce real governance, safety, and liability questions.
 
Informal Play, Formal Governance provides a clear, practical framework to help councils, asset managers, and play professionals confidently navigate this space.
 
What this book delivers
A structured risk–benefit framework for managing informal play on public land
Clear guidance on where play ends and compliance begins
Practical strategies for proportionate, defensible decision-making
Real-world insights into common hazards and incident patterns
A governance pathway to move from reactive responses → consistent management
 
Grounded in recognised standards including NZS 5828 and EN 1176, and backed by decades of field experience, this guide helps you support meaningful play without compromising safety or accountability.
 
Who it’s for
This is essential reading for:
- Councils and parks & reserves teams
- Asset managers and infrastructure planners
- Play Advocates
- Playground inspectors and safety auditors
- Landscape architects and play designers
- Schools, ECE providers, and property managers
- Governance boards and decision-makers
 
Why it matters
Informal play isn’t going away — it’s growing.
The real question is: How do you support it… without exposing your organisation to risk?
 
This book answers that. It reframes informal play from a grey area into a manageable, structured, and defensible space, helping you:
Enable community creativity
Maintain public confidence
Meet your duty of care
Make consistent, evidence-based decisions
 
From the author
Written by Adam Stride, Founder of Playsafe Ltd and one of the industry’s leading playground safety specialists, this publication brings together over two decades of hands-on experience, standards expertise, and governance insight into one practical, usable guide.
 
Bottom line
This isn’t theory. It’s a decision-making tool.
If you’re responsible for public play environments — this book will change how you manage them!