The City is developing its first Child and Teen-Friendly Public Spaces Design Manual.
The grant-funded initiative seeks to develop a pioneering road map that encourages the development of engaging public spaces that support outdoor play, physical activity, and social interaction. In doing so, the Child and Teen-Friendly City initiative seeks to create a more livable city that improves the well-being, health, and community life of San Diego’s youth and their caregivers.
The new design guidelines are anticipated to benefit the development and well-being of children and teens while enhancing the health and social life of all community members. This manual will include policies and design guidelines for public and private projects to create public spaces that are inviting, engaging, and supportive of the unique needs of children, teens, and their caregivers.
San Diego Community Newspaper Group held a Q&A with the City to find out why this initiative was launched – and what’s expected from it.
SDCNG: Tell us about the grant funding for this new design manual.
CITY: The City of San Diego Planning Department is leading the effort to develop a Child and Teen-Friendly Public Spaces Design Manual with funding from the County of San Diego’s CalFresh Healthy Living program under the Healthy Cities, Healthy Residents program.
SDCNG: What was the impetus behind the creation of this program?
CITY: The City recently updated its General Plan, which includes a specific policy to foster inclusive neighborhoods that support families with children. This policy aims to create spaces where children can grow, learn, create, imagine, and play across all neighborhoods and communities. By enhancing public spaces, the City seeks to ensure that children can fully experience and participate in their community. This manual provides a framework for planning these spaces to benefit both children and their caregivers.
SDCNG: Explain why this age-specific manual is needed. Are the interests/needs of young adults so different that the age group warrants a special manual tailored to their specific needs?
CITY: Children and teenagers have unique developmental needs that differ from adults. Tailoring public spaces to accommodate these needs ensures environments that are safe, engaging, and supportive of their growth while fostering a more inclusive community.
SDCNG: Explain the process this manual will go through in being created and approved.
CITY: The development process began in September 2024 and will continue until mid-2026, including the following phases:
- Initial Engagement and Research (September 2024 – February 2025): Initial engagement with community leaders to ensure diverse perspectives, culminating in an Existing Conditions Report.
- Public Outreach and Engagement (Early 2025 – Mid-2026): Engaging the community through workshops and surveys to gather input, leading to the development of a framework.
- Public Review and Hearing Process (March 2026 – Mid-2026): Releasing a Draft Design Manual for public review and feedback and presenting at public hearings.
SDCNG: Will public input be solicited in the process of creating this new design manual?
CITY: Yes, public input is key to ensuring that the manual will best serve our communities. The City Planning Department is committed to inclusive engagement, offering various opportunities for community members to share feedback through workshops, surveys, and other events.
SDCNG: What elements will be included in this “road map” encouraging the development of these new age-specific guidelines?
CITY: The manual will include policies and design guidelines focusing on:
Accessible and Safe Recreational Spaces: Ensuring parks, play areas, and other public spaces are easily reachable, safe, inviting, enjoyable, interactive, and secure.
Enhanced Mobility Infrastructure: Improving pathways for walking, rolling, and biking to make getting around both healthy and enjoyable.
Inclusive Public Spaces: Designing public spaces that cater to the social and physical needs of children, teens, and caregivers.
SDCNG: Are we talking about physical changes here, such as design for parks, buildings, architecture? Or is it more than that?
CITY: While the manual emphasizes physical design elements – such as parks, playgrounds, and pathways – it also addresses broader policy recommendations to create an environment conducive to the well-being of youth and caregivers.
SDCNG: How will the creation of this new design manual create “a more livable city that improves well-being?”
CITY: By fostering public spaces that encourage active play, social interaction and accessibility, the manual aims to enhance the physical and mental health of young people across San Diego. These improvements contribute to a vibrant community atmosphere, benefiting all community members.
SDCNG: What is the timetable for the creation of this new design manual?
CITY: The project timeline runs from September 2024 to mid-2026, with the final manual expected to be completed by mid-2026. It is anticipated that the manual will be presented to the City Council.
SDCNG: Once approved, how will the manual be implemented?
CITY: Post-approval, the manual will serve as a reference for both public and private development projects. It will provide guidance for the creation and enhancement of public spaces to ensure they are engaging and supportive of the needs of children, teens, and their caregivers.
