Urban Planning Crisis: Why Stockholm’s Preschool Playgrounds Are Shrinking
Stockholm’s ambitious housing projects, including the 17,000-resident Årstafältet development, are failing to meet the city’s own guidelines for child-friendly outdoor environments. According to Kerstin Bodström and Tor Edsjö, new preschool yards are being built significantly smaller than the 3,000-square-meter recommendation set by Boverket, with some sites measuring as little as 210 square meters.
The Conflict Between Density and Child Health
The city’s official document, “Lekvärdesriktlinjer. Utformning av förskole- och skolgårdar,” was adopted by the City Council to ensure children have access to spacious, nature-rich environments. Despite this, Bodström and Edsjö report that the current planning for Årstafältet ignores these requirements.
Many of these facilities are being placed on the ground floors of high-rise apartment buildings. These “utsläppsgårdar”—a term used by critics to describe spaces that lack natural terrain, greenery, and sufficient room for movement—serve merely as collection points rather than functional play areas. This trend is not unique to Årstafältet; similar space constraints are appearing in developments across the Stockholm region, including Årstaberg, Slakthusområdet, Telefonplan, Örnsberg, and Marievik.
Why Relying on Public Parks Isn’t a Solution
City planners often defend these small yards by pointing to proximity to public parks. While access to parks is a benefit, researchers argue it cannot replace the immediate, spontaneous play that a dedicated preschool yard provides.
* Logistical Hurdles: Moving large groups of children to external parks requires significant staff resources and rigid scheduling, which reduces the flexibility and frequency of outdoor time.
* Capacity Issues: Large parks must serve the entire neighborhood population. When a park is treated as a substitute for a schoolyard, the actual, dedicated space available for preschoolers becomes difficult to calculate and often insufficient.
A Return to 1950s Planning Principles
Historically, Swedish urban development prioritized space for children from the outset. During the 1950s and the following decades, builders secured prime locations and expansive grounds for schools and daycare centers before residential construction began.
In contrast, current projects like Årstafältet appear to treat child-centered spaces as an afterthought. Records show that even after the project was revised to include a slower build-out, the plans for preschool yards remained largely unchanged. Furthermore, the inclusion of “mega-preschools”—facilities designed for up to 300 children—has proceeded despite widespread criticism from parents, staff, and researchers regarding the suitability of such large-scale institutions for young children.
Did you know? Since the project start for Årstafältet in 2010, the population forecast for the area has been written up from 10,000 to 17,000 inhabitants, and the lack of attention and space given to children in the project is upsetting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are preschool yards getting smaller in Stockholm?
According to Bodström and Edsjö, developers are prioritizing higher residential density. Statements from planners suggest that to increase playground size, the city would either need to build larger preschools and place them further apart, creating a trade-off between total housing capacity and child-friendly space.
What are “exhaust yards”?
The term refers to small, hard-surfaced outdoor areas located at the base of tall buildings. Critics argue these spaces are inadequate for physical activity and lack the natural elements required to support children’s health and development.
Is this an issue only in Stockholm?
No. While the researchers highlight Stockholm as a primary case study, they note that the tension between high-density urban growth and the need for adequate preschool space is a recurring challenge in many large Swedish cities and suburban municipalities.
What is the recommended size for a preschool yard?
Boverket recommends at least 3,000 square meters to ensure enough space for movement and diverse play activities.
***
Do you have concerns about the design of your local community? Share your thoughts in the comments below or subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on regional urban development trends.
Related reading