Playgrounds for children in rural areas - meeting points connecting communities

Free 'community playgrounds' with simple equipment have become childhood rendezvous points for children in rural areas.

Community playgrounds are filled with children's laughter every afternoon.

From old tires to new joy

Not luxurious playgrounds, nor modern equipment, the “community playgrounds” in the villages on the outskirts of Hai Phong still resound with laughter every afternoon. Seesaws, slides made from old tires or frames, bouncy animals erected in the middle of the village cultural house yard have become “childhood rendezvous”, where rural children can play, exercise and grow up in simple joy.

In April 2025, at the Cultural House of Cap Thuong 2 village (Nam Dong ward), Hai Phong City Youth Union inaugurated the "Community Playground" project for local children. The project includes items such as seesaws, slides, single bars, and parallel bars worth 50 million VND, making the rural atmosphere much more bustling. The whole yard was filled with laughter and the children's calls to each other when for the first time there was a childhood playground right in the village.

The "Community Playground" project was presented by Hai Phong Youth Union at the Cultural House of Cap Thuong 2 village (Nam Dong ward).

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diem, a 4th grader, said: “Before, after school, we only played around the yard. Now that there is a slide and a swing, I invite my friends to come here every day. It’s so much fun!”

Those innocent sayings show that "Community Playground" not only brings joy but also helps rural children become more connected and active.

Not only in Nam Dong ward, recently, playground models for children in rural areas have spread to many other localities. Last August, responding to the movement "Youth join hands to build new rural areas", the City Police Youth Union and the Petroleum Company Youth Union of Region 3 also donated a playground worth 15 million VND to Tran Phu commune.

The City Police Youth Union and the Region III Petroleum Company Youth Union also presented a "Youth Playground" worth 15 million VND to Tran Phu commune.

Also in early 2025, responding to the Campaign "Hai Phong Youth celebrates the major holidays of the city and the country in 2025", Ngo Quyen District Youth Union inaugurated the youth project "Community Playground" at Cai Hom resettlement area, residential group 32, Ngo Quyen ward. In the area of ​​700 ^m2 , the units installed 11 sports equipment, games, flower beds, ornamental plants, lighting for youth, children and people to come and play, exercise and play sports.

Or in 2023, the Hai Duong Provincial Police Youth Union and the Binh Giang District Youth Union (old) donated a "Children's Playground" to Nhuan Dong village, Thuong Hong commune. The project is made entirely from recycled materials, mainly old car and motorbike tires, both saving costs and spreading the message of environmental protection.

"Children's playground" made of tires at the Cultural House of Nhuan Dong village, Thuong Hong commune.

“From seemingly discarded objects, the union members have created meaningful works, not only helping children have a place to play, but also contributing to beautifying their hometown,” shared Ms. Duong Thi Huong Giang, Deputy Secretary of the Hai Phong City Youth Union.

Living space connecting the village

Not only a place for children, the community playground has also become a living space, connecting the neighborhood. Every afternoon, the "Community Playground" area at Cai Hom resettlement area, Ngo Quyen ward is bustling with people coming and going. Some exercise, some take their children to play on the merry-go-round and swings. The whole area is bustling with the laughter of the elderly and children.

Ms. Le Thi Ngoc informed: “Previously, on weekends, my husband and I had to take our children to Vincom or Tien Phong Bookstore to have a place to play. Since having this playground, every afternoon our two children are eager to go out. They no longer watch TV or play with their phones as much as before.”

The whole city now has hundreds of community playgrounds for children, especially in the suburban areas. The equipment is simple but diverse such as slides, swings, balance beams, bouncy animals, horizontal bars, etc. Most of the works are built from socialized sources, with organizations, businesses, philanthropists and people joining hands to contribute. Vacant land is utilized, village cultural houses are renovated, every square meter of the countryside becomes a playground for children. Not only helping children develop physically and mentally, playgrounds also contribute to forming exercise habits, creating a healthy and civilized living environment for the community.

The city currently has hundreds of community playgrounds for children.

In fact, building free playgrounds in rural areas is not easy. Some localities still face difficulties in terms of land funds, funding or infrastructure. After the merger, many cultural houses have not been repaired, and the small area is not enough to install equipment. In addition, maintenance and upkeep are also issues that need to be considered long-term for the playground to operate sustainably.

Deputy Secretary of the City Youth Union Duong Thi Huong Giang added: “To effectively maintain playgrounds, it is necessary to have the attention and direction of the Party Committee and the government, along with the coordination between organizations and people. When the whole community joins hands, each playground truly becomes the common property of the village.”

In the context of rural children still lacking play space, the "community playground" model is a humane and practical solution. Playgrounds not only help children stay away from phone screens, but also bring back childhood memories. From these seemingly simple works, we can see the power of youth's cooperation and creativity. Each slide, each swing frame is a love and community responsibility for the younger generation. And we need more hearts to join hands so that in any rural area, children can have a real playground for themselves.

PHUONG LINH

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/san-choi-cho-tre-em-o-nong-thon-nhung-diem-hen-ket-noi-cong-dong-525581.html