PROPOSAL FOR BANANA ISLAND CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND

INTRODUCTION

This organisation is a non-profit, non governmental organisation with the aim of creating a better, safer and environmental friendly zone for our children to play outdoors.

Members of MIA were able to identify a recreational space on the island for our children that will serve as playground for them. They will be able to play games, take walks and ride their bikes etc. We have Chagoury Group to thank for their assistance in identifying “GREEN AREAS” on Banana.It is also the same area that BIPORAL the Residents Association for Banana Island has identified as being appropriate for such a venture.

MIA welcome all interested parties to climb on board the children’s train for a special journey in making a play ground a reality.

Our voice is the key to our children’s wellbeing.

For children growing up in Lagos, finding safe and enjoyable areas outside to play can be difficult. This is why MIA got together to ensure that there are secure parks with children’s playground equipment and open areas to play. By ensuring that an allocated space for the children is delivered, we are helping to promote a more active lifestyle for our children.

Children under the age of six are difficult to keep still and keeping them under control can prove difficult. They need activity to channel their energy. Likewise, it is also beneficial for children between the ages of six and twelve to help them communicate and mingle with other children, occupy their minds with healthier activities etc. MIA aims to encourage parents to bring their children to the playground more often and also participate with them because research has shown that kids, who engage in a lot of activities during the day, tend to have a better nights sleep and are more mentally active and creative.

THE OBJECTIVE : Delivery Of ServiceIn a bid to cater for the needs of our children’s wellbeing and safety in Banana Island, a group of women came together to form MIA (Mothers In Action). The main objective of MIA is to ensure that the recreational area on Banana Island will be fully equipped with playground accessories that will get the children excited about playing outside.

MIA is the voice of the children, ensuring that we work hand in hand with Banana Island Residents Association in delivering this play scheme to them. Our voice will continue to promote the welfare of the child and our actions will indeed ensure delivery of service for them.

THE ORGANISATION

MEMBERS OF MIASenator ObanikoroMothers from Total (13 members)Kathleen BaybridgeAnita PatelJulie StanfordImmaculate AkpasubiFreda PascalAnd many more.

MIA grows in strength everyday……. Mothers you are welcome.

The following play equipment is welcome:• Monkey bars• Climbing ropes• Sand boxes• Swings• Slides• Climbing frames• Jungle gym

• Picnic tables and benches• Sand• Seeds for plants• Fencing• And many other items needed.

For more information about MIA (Mothers in Action) or how to get involved, please call on: 08057199475, 08025961667, 08095144631

Thank you kindly for your assistance.

THE DESIGN PROCESSSeveral children to draw a version of their ideal playground. Adults will list the requirements as seen on the drawings. i.e. colour, (green issues, etc)Things to jump on, over and into.The army of volunteers will be organised by a non profit organisation called MIA (Mothers In Action).

This organisation engages communities in building children’s playgrounds where spaces tend to be in short supply.

MIA specialises in creating more time and space for childhood play, which is good for developing healthy minds, bodies and relationships.

Stage 1 : is to listen to the individual ideas of the children.

Stage 2 : lay out catalogs from a play-equipment manufacturer, looking for pieces that echo the children’s design.

N.B: sometimes, incorporating children’s wishes can be tricky especially if they draw huge roller coasters.

MIA however encourages children to apply their creativity and vision and turn great ideas into something tangible. This result is a lasting sense of pride and ownership, as well as their input being valuable to adults.

MIA proposes to bring the rest of the community into the process by giving everyone, children and adults alike – a chance to vote on two proposed blue prints.“If our children are successful with their playground, they will be successful in school.”- My inspiration is children’s drawings.

The Playground Project.One of my concerns was about children having somewhere to play and enough room to do so. Children need different activities to keep them occupied and stimulated. It’s not just enough to have physical activity equipment, but also areas where the mind can be stimulated so areas such as a stage and picnic areas allow other spaces for creative stimulation and progression.I started this project off by going around asking mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunties, uncles, nannies and classroom teachers’ what games they used to play when they were a child. Many of them remembered simple games like skipping, rolling a bike wheel, kicking a ball. However many stated that there were very few designated areas where they could play safely.Our playground will have spaces for walking, using physical equipment such as swings, and areas of audience participation such as a stage, picnic areas and look and see nature gardens.

A Focus on safetyThis is an important first step in designing an effective outdoor play environment.

Protective surfacing - nearly 60% of playground injuries occurs from falls to the ground. Using the appropriate protective surfacing is the most critical safety factor in our new playground environment. The most common impact attenuating surfaces used in modern playground environments are bark mulch, wood chips, fine sand, fine gravel, turf and poured -in-place rubber chips. Each of these materials has different attenuation characteristics depending on the depth of surfacing and intended fall height.

Adult Supervision - Children should be supervised by an adult at all times while using our play equipment. Installing seating areas will be the easiest way to accommodate supervising adults. Benches and picnic tables will be arranged to maximise visibility of playing children.

Nearby Dangers –We need to be conscious of our playground environment’s surroundings so that we take the proper precautions to keep children in designated play areas. Fences and terraces will be used to limit children’s access to nearby roads, wooded areas and bodies of water. We will consider also the area bordering our playground, and also those areas in normal travel patterns where children might be injured while traveling to and from the playground.

Drainage & Erosion - many factors can contribute to unsafe drainage and erosion conditions on and near our playground site, including local weather patterns, soil composition and a lack of vegetation. Drainage re-grading can improve the ground’s ability to channel water away from our play area where it can be safely absorbed into the earth, helping us avoid pools of standing water and muddy conditions. Dry, unstable soil that appears save to walk on can be just as dangerous. Silt fencing as well as grass and shrubs can be used to reinforce the soil, ensuring that it doesn’t wash away during heavy rains.

Sun Exposure - Our playground is intended to be used by children during peak sunlight hours, there are a few ways to limit children’s exposure to UVA and UVB rays. We will use integrated components such as roofs and fabric sun shades in a variety of colours and configurations, providing 95-100% blocking of direct sunlight.

BIP Playground

Map of Banana

Proposed Plan of BIP