Fair Play for Children Freedom of Information Survey on
Playground Provision in England 2011 Fair Play for children
undertook a survey of 326 English local authorities in the early
part of 2011. The Councils selected were Principal Authorities
delivering discretionary leisure services, including play
provision. In the main, this would include the London Boroughs,
Unitary Authorities and District/Borough Councils where there
are also County Councils. School playgrounds were excluded. The
questions asked sought to establish: There was a question about
types of play area, many councils use a definition formulated by
Fields in Trust, some do not, and this is recorded. Also,
estimate of acreage of play area space. This proved a challenge
as some authorities either do not have a record, or their play
areas in some cases are within parks and without fencing. In
some cases, a figure of 400 sq metres was used in the
calculation process. Because Parish Councils also provide play
areas, Councils were asked if they knew