PlaySpaces Cork City Trail

Working with children aged 5–11 from St. Vincent’s Primary School and Muin Afterschool centres in Blarney, Blackpool and Ballincollig, PlaySpaces Cork City Trail places children at the centre of how our city imagines and designs public space, and invites young people to become co‑creators of playful, welcoming spaces across Cork City.

Through creative workshops using drawing, model‑making and storytelling, children share their ideas for child‑friendly spaces and help shape the design, look and feel of the project. These ideas are transformed into a trail of playful installations located in key cultural venues including Cork Opera House, The Everyman Theatre, Cork City Library and the Lord Mayor’s Pavilion.

Launching during Cork Midsummer Festival 2026, the PlaySpaces trail will remain in place throughout the summer, encouraging families to explore the city through a child‑led lens. Children are also involved in designing maps and promotional materials and in evaluating the finished spaces, ensuring their voices are heard at every stage.

PlaySpaces celebrates children’s creativity, builds confidence and civic pride, and demonstrates how young people can meaningfully shape the places they live in. It offers a joyful invitation to see Cork City from a child’s perspective.