Author(s)

J. Liu

Abstract

Urban public playgrounds are key community hubs that support lifelong learning, healthy living, social integration, and civic engagement, but many of them are unable to fulfill their promises when emerging digital spaces such as online gaming and virtual reality challenge them. This paper takes a unique stance, envisaging digital spaces as opportunities rather than threats, and employs the uncertainty principle of massively multiplayer online gaming as a lens for examining urban public playground development. Drawing upon a critical analysis of a popular playground in Australia, it uncovers several key issues that might impede urban public playground development. It argues that future urban playground revitalization should not only address these issues but should also be proactive in facilitating inter-playspace communications, transitions, and connections.

Keywords

uncertainty, community development, play, interaction, play as learning