Teenage girls co-create space in Rowntree Park
After five years of conversations, workshops, observations and co-design with hundreds of local young people, the final phase of the Make Space York teen area has now been installed in Rowntree Park.
The completion marks the end of a project that began in 2021 with a simple question:
What would make teenage girls want to spend time in their local park?
Starting by listening
Teenagers are often overlooked when parks are designed. For younger children there are fenced play areas, but once children reach their teenage years, the options often become limited to sports based facilities such as MUGAs, skate parks, bike tracks and basketball courts.
These are important facilities and should absolutely continue to be provided and enjoyed by the young people who use them. However, research consistently shows they are used overwhelmingly by boys and young men, meaning many teenage girls simply don’t see parks as places designed with them in mind.
Since 2021, Make Space York has worked with more than 500 local young people to explore what they would like from their parks instead. Rather than assuming the answers, the project has always started by listening.
What did teenage girls ask for in the park?
The responses were remarkably consistent. Girls wanted places where they could spend time together, be active in informal ways, chat, climb, swing, perch, relax and simply enjoy being outdoors.
Just as importantly, they spoke about where these spaces should be located. They wanted somewhere that felt visible and safe, close enough to paths that they didn’t feel isolated, but set back enough to feel like it belonged to teenagers rather than small children. They wanted spaces where they could meet friends without feeling they were in the way.
These conversations shaped every stage of the design.
The first phase of co creating a space with teenage girls in the park
In May 2024, the first part of the co-created space was installed thanks to funding from local grants, community fundraising and supporters who believed in a different approach to designing parks.
This included:
- A large basket swing.
- A climbing and seating log stack.
- An accessible picnic table.
- Natural log seating and stepping features.
- Wildflower planting to soften the area and improve biodiversity.
The response from young people was overwhelmingly positive and confirmed the value of creating spaces designed around how teenagers actually want to use parks.
Completing the vision
Now, in July 2026, the second and final phase has been completed. The new additions include:
- Communal hammocks where friends can relax together.
- Freestyle climbing logs and balancing features.
- Roll bars for hanging, stretching and informal play.
- Additional seating and finishing touches that complete the area.
Rather than encouraging one specific activity, each feature has been chosen because it can be used in many different ways. Young people can climb, balance, swing, chat, rest, watch the world go by or simply spend time together. It is a space designed around flexibility, social connection and choice.
The space isn’t just for girls, but is a space they feel welcome and know they can and should be there.
More than just equipment
Although the completed area is an important milestone, Make Space York has never been just about installing equipment. Creating welcoming parks also means creating reasons for young people to be there.
Since 2023, the project has run the annual Make Space Festival, bringing hundreds of young people into York’s parks through free activities including sport, dance, arts, nature, wellbeing, performance and creative workshops.
Alongside the festival, Make Space York continues to deliver activities throughout the year, recognising that how a park is programmed can be just as important as how it is designed.
Together, the physical changes and ongoing programme of events help create parks where more young people feel they belong.
A project with growing influence
What began as a local community project in York is now helping influence conversations much further afield.
The learning from Make Space York has been shared nationally and internationally with councils, landscape architects, planners and community organisations interested in creating more inclusive public spaces.
The Rowntree Park ‘teen area’ demonstrates that listening to young people doesn’t require complicated solutions. Often, relatively small interventions, thoughtfully located and designed around how teenagers actually use parks, can make a significant difference.
Thank you
This project has only been possible thanks to the hundreds of young people who shared their ideas and experiences, the Friends of Rowntree Park volunteers, our funders, supporters and partner organisations, and everyone who has believed that parks should work for all young people.
Five years ago, this was simply an idea. Today, it is a space designed with young people, for young people- and, we hope, the beginning of many more parks that start by listening.
