Portsmouth playground still the ‘PLAYCE’ to be one year on

PLAYCE Pompey opened in July 2024 and is a versatile and colourful activity space, designed to get the community moving.

Built in Lord’s Court, Landport, the new multi-movement playground is thanks to a joint project between Portsmouth City Council and the University of Portsmouth. It’s also the first of its kind in the UK.

The council’s Portsmouth Homes landlord service and the University worked with locals to make sure the space would be welcomed and used –  particularly by those living in the council homes that surround the area.

Cllr Darren Sanders, Cabinet Member for Housing and Tackling Homelessness, said of the project:

“People told us they wanted this area made better, and I’m delighted that has happened. To see so many more people use it is great. I know how impressed the ‘Housing Heroes’ judges were with the scheme and to see it be one of those heroes was a very proud moment for the city.”

We’ve now learned that since its opening, PLAYCE Pompey has seen an amazing increase in use and physical activity levels.

Research by the University of Portsmouth found that since the launch, the number of people:

• using the space has more than quadrupled
• engaging in vigorous physical activity (like jumping, sprinting, or climbing) has increased tenfold

Importantly, this shows that people aren’t just passing through – they’re moving more and moving better.

There’s also been a huge increase in the number of people doing the ‘fundamental 10′ – a set of essential movements that support strength, balance, and coordination.

This include things like hopping, crawling, and changing direction, and are especially important for physical development in children and long-term mobility in adults.

Since its launch, the number of people engaging in these movements at PLAYCE Pompey has increased by more than four times.

These outcomes confirm that the PLAYCE model isn’t just visually engaging and inclusive, but that is also delivers health benefits.

PLAYCE Pompey also recently earned the title of ‘best company health and wellbeing initiative’ at the Housing Heroes awards held on June 25, 2025.

Judges praised the project for its innovation and involvement of residents, also noting how it’s led to demonstrable improvements in anti-social behaviour.

What is the PLAYCE model?

It’s based on a pioneering scientific model for movement created in the Netherlands by the Athletic Skills Model (ASM).

PLAYCE is built to be accessible for people of all ages and skill levels –  including those with disabilities. There aren’t any separate play areas for different groups – it’s an integrated activity space for all.

Dr Martina Navarro, from the School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Portsmouth, wanted to bring the PLAYCE concept to the city after seeing its success abroad.

As a former Olympic athlete, competing in Taekwondo for Brazil at the Beijing games in 2008, she is passionate about getting people moving:

“I know first-hand how powerful physical activity can be – not just for fitness, but for confidence, community, and wellbeing. When I saw the success of the PLAYCE model abroad, I knew we had to bring it to Portsmouth.

One year on, it’s incredible to see how it’s transformed a once-underused space into a vibrant, inclusive hub of movement for all ages. This is what happens when research, design and community come together.”

Portsmouth is one of the first universities to develop a Civic Partnership Agreement with partners in the local community and region to promote inclusion and enrich economic, social and cultural life. Its goal is for education and research knowledge and skills to benefit the Portsmouth Harbour region and surrounding areas.

For more information about Portsmouth PLAYCE, visit the website here.

People can also follow the PLAYCE on Instagram and Facebook.