Make Space York Report
Make Space York: Creating Parks Where Teenage Girls Feel They Belong
Make Space York is a grassroots project that began with a simple question. How do teenage girls feel about the parks and public spaces in their city.
Starting in Rowntree Park in 2021, the project set out to listen to girls and young women, to understand their experiences of public space, and to work with them to imagine something better. What followed was a bottom up, community led programme shaped by girls’ voices, supported by families, volunteers, local organisations and professionals,and grounded in real places and real change.
This page brings together the learning from the Make Space York project between 2021 and 2025. You will find a link to the full report, as well as a shorter summary version for those who want an overview of the key insights and outcomes.
The project explored themes including safety, belonging, visibility, play, rest, socialising and confidence. It also looked at how gender intersects with age, disability and other lived experiences, shaping how people move through and use public space.
What the project explored
Across engagement sessions, creative activities, pop up events and festivals, girls shared how parks often feel unwelcoming, unsafe or simply not designed with them in mind. Many spoke about feeling visible but not seen, present but not catered for.
What changed
Make Space York was not just about research. It was about action.
In Rowntree Park, the project led to the co creation of a dedicated space shaped by girls’ ideas, alongside an annual Make Space Festival of Free Events that brings teenage girls into the park through activities they choose and enjoy.
Alongside this local work, Make Space York contributed to wider conversations about gender and public space. The project is included as a case study in the Safer Parks: Improving Access for Women and Girls guidance, and has informed practice and discussion beyond York.
Why this matters
Parks are vital civic spaces. When teenage girls feel excluded from them, it has implications for physical health, mental wellbeing, confidence and belonging.
Make Space York shows that listening properly, starting small and working collaboratively can lead to meaningful change. It demonstrates what is possible when girls are treated as experts in their own lives, and when communities are trusted to shape the spaces they use.
Read the reports
If you would like to explore the project in more depth, you can read the full Make Space York report, which sets out the methodology, findings, case studies and recommendations in detail. If you are short on time, the summary report provides a concise overview of the project, its impact and key learning. Both reports are intended for anyone interested in inclusive public space, including local authorities, designers, planners, educators, community groups and funders.
