Helena Costa, a 31-year-old mother of three, residing on the Mursell Estate in Lambeth, South London, expresses her delight in seeing the removal or replacement of No Ball Games signs with basketball hoops. This initiative, led by the charity London Sport and the London Lions basketball team, aims to encourage more children to play outside and alleviate the fear associated with outdoor activities. Costa believes that this move will enable kids to enjoy the freedom of playing outdoors, a sentiment echoed by many residents on the estate.
Living on the Mursell Estate since 2011, Costa highlights the importance of children spending time outside playing instead of being engrossed in computer games indoors. She recalls a time when children used to play outside more frequently on the estate but notes a decline over the years due to various factors, including complaints from residents. The installation of a basketball hoop sign resulted in a remarkable sight of a large group of children actively engaged in outdoor play, a scene that had become rare.
Beatrice Kabutakapua, a resident of Woolwich, shares her frustration with the limiting nature of No Ball Games signs in her area, which deter her children from playing outside. Citing the abundance of space that remains underutilized, she advocates for signs that encourage play while promoting consideration for neighbors. This sentiment aligns with the efforts of organizations like London Sport, which are working to remove such signs across London to create more opportunities for outdoor activities among children.
In London, where 32% of children and young people are averaging less than 30 active minutes per day, initiatives to remove No Ball Games signs are gaining momentum. London Sport’s chief executive, Emily Robinson, emphasizes the impact of these signs as barriers to physical activity and advocates for their removal from public spaces. Collaborations with local authorities have resulted in the removal of thousands of such signs, signaling a shift towards creating inclusive and welcoming environments for children to play freely
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