Key elements and recommendations for the integration of parkour in ...

1 The New Zealand Parkour Association | Tauhōkai Aotearoa www.nzparkour.co.nz

Key elements and recommendations for the integration of parkour in landscape and design

Key elements and recommendations for the integration of parkour in

landscape and design



This document is based on a collection of recommendations compiled by the

Australian Parkour Association and New Zealand Parkour - Tauhōkai Aotearoa (NZ

Parkour) in consultation with local and international parkour practitioners and

instructors.

It is intended for use as a guide for designers, architects, developers, artists,

community advisors, youth workers, local government and other stakeholders

involved in the development of built environment and parkland.

The recommendations and design elements outlined in this document, although

developed with parkour in mind, have widespread community benefits in that they

encourage movement, self-discovery, exploration, play and fitness.

NZ Parkour representatives are available for consultation on all elements of design

and construction in relation to the safe and creative practice of parkour. NZ Parkour

is also available for introductory workshops, demonstrations and/or ongoing training

for stakeholders involved in new developments.

Please feel free to contact your nearest NZ Parkour representative to discuss your

project.

To contact the development team, email [email protected] We wish you all the best with your project!

Damien Puddle

- Managing Director

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Parkour%20Design%20Project



Table of Contents

Introduction .............................................................................................................. 5

Site and Design ..................................................................................................................... 6

Site Selection ............................................................................................................

Existing sites ...................................................................................................

New sites .........................................................................................................

What to look for ...............................................................................................

Amenities ........................................................................................................

Site Specific ..............................................................................................................

Site and Design (Continued) ................................................................................................. 7

Non-Liner and Non-Modular ......................................................................................

Aesthetics .................................................................................................................

Construction and Materials.................................................................................................... 8

Structurally Sound .....................................................................................................

Local Materials ..........................................................................................................

Mixed Materials .........................................................................................................

Appropriate Materials ................................................................................................

Construction and Materials (Continued) ................................................................................ 9

Cost Effective ............................................................................................................

Environment ........................................................................................................................ 10

Low CO2 Footprint ....................................................................................................

Recycled Materials ....................................................................................................

Natural Materials .......................................................................................................



Table of Contents [cont'd]

Function .............................................................................................................................. 11

Safety ........................................................................................................................

Balance of safety and function .......................................................................

Soft fall ...........................................................................................................

Signage ..........................................................................................................

Shade and water ............................................................................................

Multi-Purpose ............................................................................................................

Function (Continued)........................................................................................................... 12

Movement .................................................................................................................

Teaching ...................................................................................................................

Core techniques .............................................................................................

Group size ......................................................................................................

Training .....................................................................................................................

Community Opportunities .................................................................................................... 13

Multi-Use ...................................................................................................................

Training .....................................................................................................................

Health and Activity ....................................................................................................

Youth Engagement and Development ......................................................................

Local Artists ..............................................................................................................

Community Involvement............................................................................................

Community Opportunities (Continued) ................................................................................ 14

Events ..........................................................................................................................

Last updated 10/02/2014



Introduction

Definition: Parkour is a training method of overcoming physical obstacles

efficiently and effectively.

Parkour practitioners discover these obstacles by exploring their environment. These

obstacles may be found in urban or natural environments, high or low and in any

shape, form or texture. It is up to the practitioner to decide what a suitable obstacle is

and how best to navigate it.

By this notion, the creation or inclusion of new obstacles and training sites is not a

necessary endeavour and in some cases may limit the exploration and creativity that

is vital for parkour practitioners to engage in.

The New Zealand Parkour Association strongly advocates discussion between

parkour practitioners, local government, property owners and the public to ensure

the safe, effective portrayal and practice of parkour within existing public spaces.

Communication and collaboration to allow the continual use of public space for

parkour training should always be first on a stakeholders list. However, the creation

and adaptation of sites and obstacles may have many benefits to the local and

national parkour community as well as other user groups and the public.

While parkour readily attracts younger audiences, the information above clearly

shows that parkour is not limited to a youth activity but a pursuit that is available to

all and should be treated as such.

All of these things should be kept in mind when reading this document.



Site and Design

Site Selection

Existing sites:

In nearly every city there are spaces that are already being used for parkour

practice. In these spaces it may be possible to simply modify existing

structures to increase their suitability for use. In some cases little to no

modification would be required.

New sites:

In parkland, suitable sites for parkour practice will have existing features such

as rocks, trees, garden edging etc., that can be incorporated into the overall

design of the park.

If existing features are minimal, it may be necessary to build from scratch. In

urban environments it may be possible to activate underused or misused

spaces by modifying their existing features and promoting movement and play

within.

What to look for:

Parkour can thrive in the simplest of spaces, as it is the creativity of the

practitioner that makes the features of a space come to life and provide

challenges and opportunities for movement. Most practitioners will agree

however, that the best space is one that provides a density of obstacles with a

range of shape and texture at differing heights, distances and angles.

Amenities:

Ideally, the site would be near to public transport, public toilets and drinking

fountains.

Site Specific

Design of structures should be sensitive to the surrounding landscape and

work in harmony with existing features, both natural and manmade. Where

applicable, employ culturally sensitive design and artistry techniques to raise

public awareness of the historical and cultural significance of the site.



Site and Design (Cont'd)

Non-Linear and Non-Modular

Each site should have its own unique feel. Not only from an aesthetic

perspective, but also to challenge and inspire the users of the site to move and

interact in different ways with each other and the structures. Modular design

has the potential to reduce the scope for creative vision and interpretive

movement.

Aesthetics

The outward appearance of the site will be a determining factor in community

engagement with the site. A site that looks like a “parkour training facility” will

only attract a certain cross section of the population. A site that is aesthetically

engaging, structurally inviting and open to creative interpretation by its users

will appeal to a wider audience. This widening of scope will promote interaction

between different groups of people and hopefully expose more people to the

benefits of movement and play.



Construction and Materials

Structurally Sound

Materials, fixings, surfaces and features should be carefully selected to

withstand the forces involved in parkour practice. Not only will this increase the

overall safety of the construction, but it will also keep ongoing maintenance

costs to a minimum.

Local Materials

Where possible, source materials locally to cut down on transport time, costs

and carbon footprint. This practice also serves to boost local economies and

small businesses.

Mixed Materials

Choose a variety of materials to allow for changing textural experience

throughout the site, to help users develop applicable sensitivity to all

environments.

Appropriate Materials

Materials should not only be chosen for their ability to withstand but also to

enhance training/playing. Part of this will involve understanding how grip will be

affected by climate and wear and tear and how temperature will affect user-

comfort and safety (rails exposed to sun etc.).



Construction and Materials (cont'd}

Cost Effective

Because parkour is a practice of adapting to one’s existing environment, in

many cases minimal construction will be needed. By making small

modifications to existing sites and structures, many of the safety, durability and

creativity requirements for a parkour training site would be easily met. Parkour

practitioners are in their element when training on the most widely available

natural and manmade materials. From concrete blocks to metal rails, boulders

and wooden planks, trees and brickwork, the palette of perfect materials can be

sourced cheaply and competitively. There is no need to purchase fancy,

purpose-moulded plastics or pre-fabricated “parkour kits” at premium prices.



Environment

Low CO2 Footprint

The construction of these sites could be used to both explore and promote the

intelligent use of low CO2 materials and practices to create multi-use public

spaces.

Recycled Materials

In keeping with parkour’s connection to existing environments, it makes sense

to use existing materials to create parkour spaces. What might originally be

seen as waste (off-cuts of railings; misshapen concrete blocks; railway

sleepers; bent girders and beams...) could all be used to create aesthetically

engaging, challenging and creative play spaces.

Natural Materials

Using natural materials such as boulders, logs, timber, existing trees and grass

simultaneously adds some organic aesthetics to the design whilst removing the

need for extensive, carbon-hungry fabrication processes.



Function

Safety

Balance of safety and function:

The construction must offer a base level of safety, wherein accidental injury is

kept to a minimum through intelligent design. However, if a site is ‘safe’ to the

point that risk is eliminated altogether, the users will lose the opportunity to

develop their own risk assessment and management skills. Consider building to

skate park standards, or making clever use of ‘landscape architecture’

elements before constricting movement possibilities with playground codes.

Soft fall:

Soft fall zones should be used where absolutely necessary, however it should

be noted that soft fall compounds can also add their own dangers to a space.

Mulch, gravel and woodchip all have the potential to create dust and debris that

can lead to slips and falls on smooth surfaces. Rubberised soft fall matting can

become slippery in wet conditions and can also lead to miss-step accidents

when transitioning between solid flooring and the spongy texture of the soft fall.

Signage:

Signage and information plaques can be used to describe and promote safe

movement and awareness of risk.

Shade and water:

Where possible, sun safety should be taken into account, using the shade of

existing trees or structures, or adding sails. Drinking water should also be easily

accessible on or near the site.

Multi-Purpose

The structures and sites should be accessible by and inclusive of many

different user groups, for recreational, social, training, teaching and event-

based use.



The creation of multi-purpose features will increase the total usage of the

new/adapted elements and increase the interaction between user groups.

Function [cont'd]

Movement

The design must promote movement on a variety of levels. Obstacles should

be placed so that movement can flow freely between, over, under and around

them, yet still provide challenges of density and distance for all levels of play,

training and practice.

Teaching

Core techniques:

The site should be designed such that foundational parkour techniques,

including safe landing techniques, impact minimisation techniques, fundamental

strength building exercises and obstacle passement, are able to be taught and

practiced effectively.

Group size:

Depending on the population of the surrounding areas and the proximity and

number of other possible training sites, the site should accommodate a

reasonable group size to allow for effective teaching.

Training

From the perspective of parkour training, sites should allow for technical

progression by offering a range of challenges to practitioners of any level. In

most cases these challenges will be discovered by the practitioners themselves

in the way they approach the space, or by their instructors in teaching sessions.

Resorting to modular constructions where movement is ‘prescribed through

design’ can diminish the variety of challenges.



Community Opportunities

Multi-Use

A well designed site will not only attract parkour practitioners, but will also be

suited to people of all ages, races, genders and abilities as a space to explore

movement, interact socially, culturally and creatively.

The practice of parkour requires no special equipment other than the space it

inhabits, so there are no barriers to engagement based on one’s

socioeconomic status.

Health and Activity

Parkour promotes a culture of health and fitness through movement and

exploration of the body’s natural abilities. By creating spaces where people are

exposed to the practice of parkour we can open up new avenues to inspire

people into action and health.

Youth Engagement and Development

Parkour easily attracts practitioners between the ages of 12 and 25, and as

such, parkour has a strong connection to the youth sector. Parkour has been

used internationally and in New Zealand as a tool for youth development,

working successfully with under-engaged, at-risk and sedentary youth

populations and achieving positive outcomes for all.

Local Artists

The undertaking of new construction and development in parks and urban

spaces opens up a forum and potential canvas for local artists to gain exposure

through collaborative work on these community oriented projects.



Community Opportunities [cont'd]

Community Involvement

Where possible, the involvement of the wider community should be considered

in the preparation and construction. A project with local buy-in will install a

sense of ownership and pride and is likely to increase the usage of the space.

Events

Parkour-friendly spaces bring with them the potential to accommodate

organised events and activities at local, national and international levels. Local

Parkour communities will likely use these spaces as meeting, training and

socialising hubs. The New Zealand Parkour Association organises local and

national in which practitioners travel to New Zealand cities from other regions

and overseas to share in training, teaching and play.

These events, whether weekly local gatherings or full scale National

Gatherings, will not only help to activate the spaces in which they are held, but

will also feed back into local commerce. Regular local events will undoubtedly

see a rise in the patronage of nearby food, drink, and entertainment outlets. Full

scale national events will draw on goods and services from food and drink to

accommodation; equipment hire and entertainment services; transportation and

security.

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