Last year, within the work on Healthy Urban Environments, an audit tool for assessing the quality of playgrounds and schoolyards was developed. The audit tool aims to support municipalities and local stakeholders in systematically assessing and improving the quality of playgrounds and schoolyards to promote physical activity, and inclusive play. The results are expected to inform local planning processes and evidence-based decision-making.
The preliminary version of the questionnaire was developed based on an extensive literature review and was subsequently presented and co-created through focus groups with key stakeholders in Greece and Germany. This process highlighted cultural differences as well as important directions for the further improvement and contextual adaptation of the tool. The categories of the quality assessment are:
- access and surrounding neighborhood
- design and equipment
- condition and cleanliness
- safety
- inclusion and accessibility.
The German version of the tool was digitalized and is available on an existing website promoting physical activity in municipalities, run by the Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG). In Greece, the team from the Harokopio University is currently in the process of digitalization of the tool. The National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy of Hungary is also participating in the pilot as an observer. In this role, the institution ensures its support for the implementation process and follows the project activities closely. All partners from the three countries are sharing local experiences and insights to support mutual learning and future improvements.
Audit tool testing in Athens during JA PreventNCD meeting
During an in-depth task meeting in Athens in October 2025, the tool was tested on-site with all participants. Playgrounds in the vicinity of Harokopio University had been pre-loaded into the system. During a joint tour of the playgrounds, all participants used their smartphones, to scan the QR-code and to evaluate the locations. In a subsequent online meeting, results were jointly reviewed and some potential improvements were pointed out.
Also during fall, tool was piloted in five German municipalities, where, playgrounds and schoolyards were evaluated by children and young people, as well as by parents, educators, and municipal decision-makers. All in all, 9 playgrounds and 12 schoolyards were audited. The results from the pilot activity are now being analyzed, and the audit tool is being optimized. This year, 2026, pilot testing will move to Greece. At the end, the tool will be rolled out in English, German and Greek language.
Authors
Dr. Anna Streber, Dr. Ria Kortum, Dr. Malte Bödeker
Federal Institute of Public Health, Germany
Dr. Yannis Manios, Dr. Giannis Arnaoutis, Dr. Eva Karaglani, Christina Patmiou
Harokopio University, Greece
Fanni Mészáros, Noémi Borbély
National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy, Hungary