Where Are the Girls?
Creating Inclusive Recreational Spaces for Girls

This project aims to understand how current spaces are being used by girls, what girls want and will use in a recreational space, and how best to meet these needs.

About This Project

Creating inclusive recreational spaces for girls- A Nature Play WA Project

Our Girls’ Recreational Spaces Project aims to create safe, inclusive, and engaging recreational spaces that support tween and teen girls to be more active and connected.

With research showing that up to 90% of Australian girls aged 11-17 are not meeting recommended physical activity levels, this project will consult directly with girls to understand their needs.

The findings will inform a practical toolkit to guide local governments, designers, and developers in shaping recreational spaces that truly welcome and empower girls.

Research by Make Space for Girls UK found…

Improving girls recreational spaces

Most parks have more facilities for dog waste than for teen girls.

Boy riding bike on bike track

94% of youth facilities are skate parks, multi-use games areas or BMX tracks.

Teen girls recreational spaces project

Girls are 3x more likely to use swings, shelters & social seating.

We Need Your Help!
Snapshot Week: 6-12 October, 2025

During the second week of the school holidays (6-12th October) we ask that you take five minutes to observe a park, playground or other recreational space near to where you live or work and complete this (very!) short survey.

Anyone can help – parents, grandparents, teens, we need you! Whether you observe one spot or multiple, your contribution will help us collect and share data on how WA’s recreational spaces are currently being used.

This information will be used to form recommendations for use by decision makers and those involved in designing and managing recreational spaces for WA communities.

Want a reminder about Snapshot Week? Sign up here and we’ll remind you when it’s time to undertake the survey.

ACCESS THE SNAPSHOT WEEK SURVEY
We need your help poster

Snapshot Week FAQ

When should I go to the park? 
Any time over 6-12 October 2025 is fine as long as it’s in daylight. There are likely to be more teenagers there in the afternoon, but data across the whole day is also useful. 

What facilities in the park am I looking at? 
Any sport and recreation facilities such as skateparks, BMX/pump tracks, ovals, basketball courts and playgrounds. 

What should I count? 
We’d like to know how many people are using each of the facilities in the park and how many of them are teens, girls and boys.  

What happens if I can’t tell someone’s gender? 
No need to ask them, just guess.  

How long should I count for? 
All we need is a spot count of who is there when you turn up. It should take no more than a couple of minutes.  Be respectful of people using the facility and please don’t loiter or stare at them. 

How many times should I count? 
Once per place per day is enough, thank you. We’d love it if you could submit a count for each of the facilities in the park.  

It would be wonderful if you could visit lots of different parks across the week.  

What if there is no one there? 
Just record this – no need to wait for someone to turn up.  Knowing that there is no one using the facility at a particular moment is still valuable data. 

How do I record this? 
You can either make notes in the park and add them to the online survey form at home or fill in the online survey on your phone while you are there.  
  
What if I don’t have a smartphone? 
There is a downloadable form here. This can be printed to take to the park and complete. Responses can be emailed to [email protected] or simply transfer the information to the online survey form once you are back home.

Am I collecting any data about individual people? 
No, just the numbers of people using it. 
  
Should I talk to people using the teen facilities? 
No, we are only asking you to observe and count. 
  
Is observing and counting OK to do in the park? 
Yes, this kind of counting is a standard research practice used by lots of universities.   
We ask that you do not take photos of anyone in the park. 
  
 What if someone asks what I am doing? 
We suggest saying something like “Taking part in a survey about how parks are used”.   

More Ways to Be Involved

Community Members

Join us for Snapshot Week (October 6-12) to help collect data about recreational space use in your area.

Snapshot Week

Youth Organisations

Do you work with youth? We would love you to be involved in the consultation process.

Get Involved

Developers/Designers

Work with us to identify barriers and solutions to designing and managing recreational spaces for WA girls.

Get Involved

Our Girls’ Recreational Spaces Project Plan

We are currently preparing for the Snapshot phase of our Girls’ Recreational Space Project plan.

Girls Recreational Spaces Project Process graphic

Latest Project News

The Nature Play WA team recently ran a workshop at the Parks and Leisure Australia conference for local government staff, landscape architects and play space builders. Some of the perceived barriers to consulting with girls include:  

  • Girls feel uncomfortable/embarrassed about speaking out, for social and/or cultural reasons. 
  • Girls lack trust in the consultation process and don’t feel it is a safe space. 
  • Standard consultation processes don’t engage tween/teen girls. 
  • Lack of time and funding. 

And these are some of the solutions attendees proposed: 

  • Find and engage mentors that girls trust. 
  • Form relationships with youth organisations and schools for consultation purposes, and maintain those relationships. 
  • Make consultation a collaborative process (e.g., chalkboards, chats and prompts – not surveys). 
Girls Recreational Spaces Project Update
A group of ten girls aged 10 to 13 walking towards camera, on a cement path. They are talking, smiling and laughing as they join in a group conversation. There are tall gum trees along the sides of the path and in the background.
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LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
ENGAGED TO DATE

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ORGANISATIONS
ENGAGED TO DATE

  • Teen girls recreational spaces project
  • Teen girls recreational spaces project
  • Teen girls recreational spaces project
  • Teen girls recreational spaces project
  • A photo of girls' hands forming a circle.