Key Elements and Recommendations For The Integration of Parkour in Landscape and Design

Key elements and recommendations
for the integration of parkour in

landscape and design
Key elements and

recommendations for the
integration of parkour in
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contact@nzparkour.co.nz

This document is based on a collection of recommendations compiled by the

Australian Parkour Association and New Zealand Parkour - Tauhkai Aotearoa (NZ
Parkour) in consultation with local and international parkour practitioners and
instructors.
It is intended for use as a guide for designers, architects, developers, artists,

community advisors, youth workers, local government and other stakeholders
involved in the development of built environment and parkland.
The recommendations and design elements outlined in this document, although

developed with parkour in mind, have widespread community benefits in that they
encourage movement, self-discovery, exploration, play and fitness.
NZ Parkour representatives are available for consultation on all elements of design

and construction in relation to the safe and creative practice of parkour. NZ Parkour
is also available for introductory workshops, demonstrations and/or ongoing training
for stakeholders involved in new developments.
Please feel free to contact your nearest NZ Parkour representative to discuss your
project.
To contact the development team, email contact@nzparkour.co.nz
We wish you all the best with your project!
Damien Puddle
-
CEO, NZ Parkour
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Table of Contents
Introduction .............................................................................................................. 5
Site and Design .......................................................................................................... 6
Site Selection ............................................................................................................
Existing sites ...................................................................................................
New sites.........................................................................................................
What to look for ...............................................................................................
Amenities ........................................................................................................
Site Specific ..............................................................................................................
Site and Design (Continued) ...................................................................................... 7

Non-Liner and Non-Modular......................................................................................
Aesthetics .................................................................................................................
Construction and Materials ......................................................................................... 8

Structurally Sound.....................................................................................................
Local Materials ..........................................................................................................
Mixed Materials .........................................................................................................
Appropriate Materials ................................................................................................
Construction and Materials (Continued) ..................................................................... 9

Cost Effectiveness ....................................................................................................
Environment ............................................................................................................. 10
Low CO2 Footprint ....................................................................................................
Recycled Materials ....................................................................................................
Natural Materials .......................................................................................................
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Table of Contents [cont'd]

Function ................................................................................................................... 11
Safety ........................................................................................................................
Balance of safety and function .......................................................................
Soft fall ...........................................................................................................
Signage ..........................................................................................................
Shade and water ............................................................................................
Multi-Purpose ............................................................................................................
Function (Continued) ................................................................................................ 12

Movement .................................................................................................................
Teaching ...................................................................................................................
Core techniques .............................................................................................
Group size ......................................................................................................
Training .....................................................................................................................
Community Opportunities ......................................................................................... 13

Multi-Use ...................................................................................................................
Training .....................................................................................................................
Health and Activity ....................................................................................................
Youth Engagement and Development ......................................................................
Local Artists ..............................................................................................................
Community Involvement............................................................................................
Community Opportunities (Continued) ..................................................................... 14

Events ..........................................................................................................................
Last updated 13/07/2015
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Introduction
Definition:
Parkour is a training method and philosophy of overcoming

physical obstacles.
Parkour practitioners discover these obstacles by exploring their environment. These

obstacles may be found in urban or natural environments, high or low and in any
shape, form or texture. It is up to the practitioner to decide what a suitable obstacle is
and how best to navigate it.
By this notion, the creation or inclusion of new obstacles and training sites is not a
necessary endeavour and in some cases may limit the exploration and creativity that
is vital for parkour practitioners to engage in.
New Zealand Parkour strongly advocates discussion between parkour practitioners,
local government, property owners and the public to ensure the safe, effective
portrayal and practice of parkour within existing public spaces.
Communication and collaboration to allow the continual use of public space for
parkour training should always be first on a stakeholders list. However, the creation
and adaptation of sites and obstacles may have many benefits to the local and
national parkour community as well as other user groups and the public.
While parkour readily attracts younger audiences, the information above clearly
shows that parkour is not limited to a youth activity but a pursuit that is available to
all and should be treated as such.
All of these things should be kept in mind when reading this document.
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Site and Design

Site Selection
Existing sites:
In nearly every city there are spaces that are already being used for parkour
practice. In these spaces it may be possible to simply modify existing
structures to increase their suitability for use. In some cases little to no
modification would be required.
New sites:
In parkland, suitable sites for parkour practice will have existing features such
as rocks, trees, garden edging etc., that can be incorporated into the overall
design of the park.
If existing features are minimal, it may be necessary to build from scratch. In
urban environments it may be possible to activate underused or misused
spaces by modifying their existing features and promoting movement and play
within.
What to look for:
Parkour can thrive in the simplest of spaces, as it is the creativity of the
practitioner that makes the features of a space come to life and provide
challenges and opportunities for movement. Most practitioners will agree
however, that the best space is one that provides a density of obstacles with a
range of shape and texture at differing heights, distances and angles.
Amenities:
Ideally, the site would be near to public transport, public toilets and drinking
fountains.
Site Specific
Design of structures should be sensitive to the surrounding landscape and
work in harmony with existing features, both natural and manmade. Where
applicable, employ culturally sensitive design and artistry techniques to raise
public awareness of the historical and cultural significance of the site.
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Site and Design (Cont'd)

Non-Linear and Non-Modular
Each site should have its own unique feel. Not only from an aesthetic
perspective, but also to challenge and inspire the users of the site to move and
interact in different ways with each other and the structures. Modular design
has the potential to reduce the scope for creative vision and interpretive
movement.
Aesthetics
The outward appearance of the site will be a determining factor in community
engagement with the site. A site that looks like a parkour training facility will
only attract a certain cross section of the population. A site that is aesthetically
engaging, structurally inviting and open to creative interpretation by its users
will appeal to a wider audience. This widening of scope will promote interaction
between different groups of people and hopefully expose more people to the
benefits of movement and play.
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Construction and Materials

Structurally Sound
Materials, fixings, surfaces and features should be carefully selected to
withstand the forces involved in parkour practice. Not only will this increase the
overall safety of the construction, but it will also keep ongoing maintenance
costs to a minimum.
Local Materials
Where possible, source materials locally to cut down on transport time, costs
and carbon footprint. This practice also serves to boost local economies and
small businesses.
Mixed Materials
Choose a variety of materials to allow for changing textural experience
throughout the site, to help users develop applicable sensitivity to all
environments.
Appropriate Materials
Materials should not only be chosen for their ability to withstand but also to
enhance training/playing. Part of this will involve understanding how grip will be
affected by climate and wear and tear and how temperature will affect usercomfort and safety (rails exposed to sun etc.).
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Construction and Materials (cont'd}

Cost Effectiveness
Because parkour is a practice of adapting to ones existing environment, in
many cases minimal construction will be needed. By making small
modifications to existing sites and structures, many of the safety, durability and
creativity requirements for a parkour training site would be easily met. Parkour
practitioners are in their element when training on the most widely available
natural and manmade materials. From concrete blocks to metal rails, boulders
and wooden planks, trees and brickwork, the palette of perfect materials can be
sourced cheaply and competitively. There is no need to purchase fancy,
purpose-moulded plastics or pre-fabricated parkour kits at premium prices.
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Environment
Low CO2 Footprint
The construction of these sites could be used to both explore and promote the
intelligent use of low CO2 materials and practices to create multi-use public
spaces.
Recycled Materials
In keeping with parkours connection to existing environments, it makes sense
to use existing materials to create parkour spaces. What might originally be
seen as waste (off-cuts of railings; misshapen concrete blocks; railway
sleepers; bent girders and beams...) could all be used to create aesthetically
engaging, challenging and creative play-spaces.
Natural Materials
Using natural materials such as boulders, logs, timber, existing trees and grass
simultaneously adds some organic aesthetics to the design whilst removing the
need for extensive, carbon-hungry fabrication processes.
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Function
Safety
Balance of safety and function:
The construction must offer a base level of safety, wherein accidental injury is
kept to a minimum through intelligent design. However, if a site is safe to the
point that risk is eliminated altogether, the users will lose the opportunity to
develop their own risk assessment and management skills. Consider building to
skate park standards, or making clever use of landscape architecture
elements before constricting movement possibilities with playground codes.
Soft fall:
Soft fall zones should be used where absolutely necessary, however it should
be noted that soft fall compounds can also add their own dangers to a space.
Mulch, gravel and woodchip all have the potential to create dust and debris that
can lead to slips and falls on smooth surfaces. Rubberised soft fall matting can
become slippery in wet conditions and can also lead to miss-step accidents
when transitioning between solid flooring and the spongy texture of the soft fall.
Signage:
Signage and information plaques can be used to describe and promote safe
movement and awareness of risk.
Shade and water:
Where possible, sun safety should be taken into account, using the shade of
existing trees or structures, or adding sails. Drinking water should also be easily
accessible on or near the site.
Multi-Purpose
The structures and sites should be accessible by and inclusive of many
different user groups, for recreational, social, training, teaching and eventbased use.
Parkour involves the re-imagination and utilisation of existing spaces, so in
many ways it doesnt make sense to build an area with only parkour in mind.
Instead, consider how essential features, art, play-spaces, infrastructure and
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Function [cont'd]
the landscape could all be built with parkour in mind. The creation of multipurpose features will increase the total usage of the new/adapted elements and
increase the interaction between user groups and parkour practitioners will do
what they do best, find a way to engage with whatever they find.
Movement
The design must promote movement on a variety of levels. Obstacles should
be placed so that movement can flow freely between, over, under and around
them, yet still provide challenges of density and distance for all levels of play,
training and practice.
Teaching
Core techniques:
The site should be designed such that foundational parkour techniques,
including safe landing techniques, impact minimisation techniques, fundamental
strength building exercises and obstacle passement, are able to be taught and
practiced effectively.
Group size:
Depending on the population of the surrounding areas and the proximity and
number of other possible training sites, the site should accommodate a
reasonable group size to allow for effective teaching.
Training
From the perspective of parkour training, sites should allow for technical
progression by offering a range of challenges to practitioners of any level. In
most cases these challenges will be discovered by the practitioners themselves
in the way they approach the space, or by their instructors in teaching sessions.
Resorting to modular constructions where movement is prescribed through
design can diminish the variety of challenges.
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Community Opportunities
Multi-Use
A well designed site will not only attract parkour practitioners, but will also be
suited to people of all ages, races, genders and abilities as a space to explore
movement, interact socially, culturally and creatively.
The practice of parkour requires no special equipment other than the space it
inhabits, so there are no barriers to engagement based on ones
socioeconomic status.
Health and Activity

Parkour promotes a culture of health and fitness through movement and
exploration of the bodys natural abilities. By creating spaces where people are
exposed to the practice of parkour we can open up new avenues to inspire
people into action and health.
Youth Engagement and Development

Parkour easily attracts practitioners between the ages of 12 and 25, and as
such, parkour has a strong connection to the youth sector. Parkour has been
used internationally and in New Zealand as a tool for youth development,
working successfully with under-engaged, at-risk and sedentary youth
populations and achieving positive outcomes for all.
Local Artists
The undertaking of new construction and development in parks and urban
spaces opens up a forum and potential canvas for local artists to gain exposure
through collaborative work on these community oriented projects.
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Community Opportunities [cont'd]

Community Involvement
Where possible, the involvement of the wider community should be considered
in the preparation and construction. A project with local buy-in will install a
sense of ownership and pride and is likely to increase the usage of the space.
Events
Parkour-friendly spaces bring with them the potential to accommodate
organised events and activities at local, national and international levels. Local
Parkour communities will likely use these spaces as meeting, training and
socialising hubs. The New Zealand Parkour Association organises local and
national in which practitioners travel to New Zealand cities from other regions
and overseas to share in training, teaching and play.
These events, whether weekly local gatherings or full scale National
Gatherings, will not only help to activate the spaces in which they are held, but
will also feed back into local commerce. Regular local events will undoubtedly
see a rise in the patronage of nearby food, drink, and entertainment outlets. Full
scale national events will draw on goods and services from food and drink to
accommodation; equipment hire and entertainment services; transportation and
security.
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