This book examines children's play in public city parks and playgrounds as they pursue their agendas for joy, healing, discovery, and democratic engagement.

It offers an understanding of relevant theory and approaches for strengthening public city parks and playgrounds as spaces for children's healthy development and civic engagement. The book features an introduction, six diary interludes between chapters, and six chapters that examine critical dimensions of children's play in public city parks and playgrounds. Each chapter features a discussion of relevant research and theory, as well as original research from the author's observational visits to public parks and playgrounds, as well as interviews with scholars, parents, and park designers. The book also features over 30 photographs of parks and playgrounds to illustrate key aspects of design, children's play, and civic engagement.

The book is intended for researchers in the fields of children's play, city planning, public spaces, and children's geographies, as well as educators, parents, and open space and children's play advocates.

Daniel R. Meier is Professor of Elementary Education at San Francisco State University. Meier's teaching and scholarship focus on children's language and literacy development, nature education, teacher inquiry, qualitative research, and international education. Meier has written and edited over ten books and numerous articles and presented his research nationally and internationally. He is currently at work on a collaborative project examining the value of speculative fiction in teacher education and a book on the role of paper in preserving family artifacts and memories.