The results of our participant survey – and what they mean for ParkPlay.

A few weeks ago, we asked our ParkPlay community to tell us what they really think. What brings you to ParkPlay? What does it mean to you and your family? What could we do better?

132 of you responded. And what you told us is extraordinary – not because it surprised us, but because it put into words something we feel every week in parks across the country. ParkPlay is working. And it’s working because of the people in it. Here’s what you said.

You love it. And you want everyone to know about it.

84% of you rated your ParkPlay experience 5 out of 5. 86% said you would recommend it to a friend or neighbour with a score of 9 or 10. That’s amazing. But the number that surprised us? 94% of respondents said they feel happier or more energised after every single session. Every week, for hundreds of families across the country, ParkPlay is ending on a high for them.

“ParkPlay is woven into the fabric of our daily lives.”
“We absolutely love going. The friendships we’ve gained have been really lovely. We just hope it never stops running.”

It’s about so much more than exercise.

We started ParkPlay to get people moving. And it’s doing that – 65% of you say you’re more physically active since joining, and our children are clocking an average of 4.4 active days a week outside of school. But when we asked what you love most about ParkPlay, physical activity wasn’t the first thing you mentioned. You talked about people. Community. Belonging.

• 94% have made new friendships through ParkPlay
• 93% feel more involved in their local community
• 90% say they spend more quality time together as a family
• 91% say they or their children spend less time on screens

And this was also reflected in some of the comments:

“It’s a fun place to be – not just for your kid but for adults as well.”
“I feel stress-free after coming here.”
“Getting to see everyone. That’s the best thing.”

That last one – screen time – wasn’t even something we asked about directly. In a world where children and adults are spending more time than ever on devices, ParkPlay is giving families a genuinely joyful reason to put the phone down and go outside together.

The magic ingredient? The people who run it.

Over and over again in the open-ended responses, you told us that the single most important thing about your ParkPlay is the volunteers. Their welcome. Their warmth. Their ability to make everyone – from a shy toddler to a 70-year-old – feel like they belong.

“The leader is so welcoming. He just wants everyone to have fun. Everyone is made to feel welcome.”
“Kaye the play leader is absolutely amazing – warm and welcoming and makes everything fun.”
“I’m 70 in April. It keeps me active.”

This is a reminder – to our brilliant PlayLeaders and volunteers – that what they do every week is not a small thing. It’s the thing.

What we’re going to do with what you told us.

Your feedback is going to shape how ParkPlay grows and improves. Three things stand out as clear priorities:

Making the first visit feel brilliant. You told us the welcome matters most – especially for people coming for the first time, who might not know anyone. We’re working with our PlayLeaders to make the first-timer experience even warmer.

Helping more people find us. 65% of you found ParkPlay through a friend or family member – which tells us the power of word of mouth is real. The best thing you can do is bring someone new along. And we’ll be giving you more content to share, so spreading the word is easier than ever.

Building stronger communities within sessions. The people who attend regularly get the most from ParkPlay. We want to help every ParkPlay build the kind of community where people feel they belong – and want to come back again and again.

Thank you.

For coming along to play. For filling in the survey. For being the community that makes ParkPlay what it is. If there’s someone in your life who hasn’t been yet – a neighbour, a friend, a family member – bring them along.

“Go. You won’t regret it.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

#MeetMovePlay