draft v.

11/2015

design guidelines
for outdoor parkour spaces

Design methodology and building standards for permanent,

outdoor parkour areas and equipment. This document
includes both high-level design considerations for maximizing
user base engagement as well as practical considerations of
materials, location, and safety.

Colin MacDonald
Tyson Cecka
Juliet Vong ASLA LEED AP

table of contents
1. introduction
2. scope
3. integrated vs. discrete
4. movement categories
5. jumping movements
6. jumping - examples
7. vaulting movements
8. vaulting - examples
9. climbing movements
10. climbing - examples
11. design philosophy
12. layers
13. variety
14. density
15. details: materials
16. site selection
17. resources

1. introduction
parkour, defined:
parkour: An athletic activity based on creating
and attempting movement challenges in the built
environment using a vocabulary of jumping, climbing,
and acrobatic techniques.
Parkour is also sometimes referred to as Freerunning,
especially when acrobatic or performative elements
are emphasized.

the founders of parkour

a brief history

Parkour originated in Lisses, France during the late 1980s and early 1990s. David Belle
(top left in photo), the son of a famous French firefighter, is generally credited with
parkours creation. Belle and his friends applied the techniques of military obstacle
courses to the city and forest around them, and would set mental and physical challenges
to test themselves.
When the group produced several videos featuring their techniques, a global movement
was born. Today, there are organized parkour groups in every major US city and parkour
gyms that help introduce new students to the sport.

benefits of parkour

Compared to other athletics, parkour provides an

avenue for movement play that mostly vanishes
once children age out of playgrounds. It resonates
with older children who dislike team sports but are
not yet old enough to enjoy other non-competitive
athletics like cycling and running.
It requires no specialized equipment or facilities,
making it accessible to low-income populations
who often lack access to traditional athletic
programs.
Finally, it fosters a love and appreciation for the
built environment and an overall mindset of seeing
obstacles as opportunities.

2. scope
outdoor
These guidelines relate specifically to outdoor parkour facilities intended for unsupervised use.
Indoor facilities, or facilities which will only be used in a supervised class setting, have different
requirements and limitations which this document does not attempt to capture.

permanent and fixed

These guidelines only apply to permanent or semi-permanent creations. Generally, structures
anchored into the ground with concrete are considered permanent, while those that rely on
wire supports or their own weight are considered temporary. These guidelines do not address
installations that are temporary or designed to change their shape or arrangement.

no moving parts
Gymnastics and acrobatic equipment such as trampolines, inflatables, landing pads, trapezes,
ropes, or rings fall outside the scope of this document. In most cases, the elements of a parkour
park should not move, flex, or shift. If moving elements are integrated (a slackline or balancing
rope, for example) the design should make their presence obvious and unlikely to surprise.
A concrete park (not designed
for parkour) in Switzerland

integrated versus discrete

Because parkour emerged from architectural

forms not intended for its use, parkour finds a
natural home in the connective tissue of cities.
Plazas, stairways, access ramps, and parks all
have the potential to become active parkour
spaces. Parkour can be a design layer that helps
activate public spaces without taking them over
or even being noticible to non-practitioners.
The integrated approach creates spaces for
parkour primarily through intelligent placement
and design of traditional elements. Standard
building and safety codes are followed, and the
average non-parkour athlete will rarely notice
that the space has an alternate purpose.
The primary advantage of the integrated
approach is its efficiency. It simply adds a layer of
utility while demanding little in the way of extra
space and building resources.

Designated parkour parks allow a designer to

focus on maximising parkour potential as the
primary goal. Specific signage and boundaries
allow these designs to deviate from typical
urban forms.
Discrete parkour parks can offer a higher
density of possible challenges along with shapes
and layouts not available in the typical urban
environment. This makes them very attractive
to parkour athletes and makes them more likely
to be a regional draw than smaller, integrated
elements.
However, creating unique forms generally
means going outside of typical outdoor design
standards. This means that specific signage and
clear boundries (similar to skateparks) are often
essential.

These guidelines apply to both the integrated and discrete approaches. While
consulation with parkour athletes and/or designers will be helpful for both
approaches, it is especially essential for the discrete approach. A plaza that isnt
quite right for parkour can still be a lovely plaza, but a parkour park that doesnt
work for parkour is just wasted space.

2. movement categories
The challenges that make up parkour draw on a shared vocabulary of movements. There are too many
named movements to make an exhaustive list worthwhile, so it is easier to break them down by category.
Broadly speaking, parkour consists of jumping, vaulting, climbing, balancing, and acrobatic movements.
The next section focuses on the first three.

jumping

vaulting

climbing

Individual movements are combined into lines like an on-the-fly obstacle course. These lines fall into two
general categories: performance challenges and problem solving challenges.
A performance challenge involves completing a set series of movements with good form. This could be
a single challenging jump and landing, or a complex sequence of vaults. Athletes look for opportunities
to apply common movement sequences to a new space. Understanding the movement vocabulary of
parkour is key to understanding how to make a space appealing.
Problem solving challenges often have a climbing component to them. An athlete might pick a point
along a wall and try to climb to it, or find the best way to cross to a distant obstacle without touching the
ground. Unique environments, especially those with small ledges or hand-holds, offer the most potential
for problem solving challenges.

movement category: jumping

Jumping is the foundational element of parkour. Most
commonly, jumps are used to clear a gap between two
elements, clear height onto or over an element, or enter
dynamically into another movement.
A precision is a common way to land a jump or other aerial
movement, and refers to sticking ones landing to an element
with both feet. Thin elements like railings are popular precision
targets because they provide an extra challenge.

static jumps

Jumping: explosive, upwards power

off of one or both legs

Static jumps begin with the athlete at a standstill, and are

usually performed from the edge of an element. Static
jumps to precision can be found nearly anywhere and are
challenging and rewarding for all skill-levels depending on the
size and technical demands of the elements involved.
Athletic beginners can jump 6 to 7 feet when the elements
are level, while advanced athletes can easily exceed 9 feet.
Athletes can clear a proportionally greater distance when
jumping to a lower element, and less distance when jumping
to a higher one. Height changes rarely exceed 4 feet.

Dynamic jumps can start out of a running approach, or be

chained directly out of the landing of a previous jump.

dynamic jumps

Athletes can generally running jump 1.25 to 1.5 times the

distance of their static jump. Athletes prefer at least 3 running
steps before a large jump, which equals around 12 feet of
approach distance.
Dynamic jumps chained together are called bounds if both
feet are used, or strides if only one is. An athletes bound and
stride range generally meets, or slightly exceeds, their static
jump range.

tic-tacs

Athletes can jump off of the sides of vertical and slanted walls
to redirect their momentum or clear a gap or height that is
otherwise out of range. This is called a tic-tac, or simply a tac.
Walls slanted between 90 and 45 degrees are the best suited
to these movements, especially if grip is compromised by
water or dust. Additionally, thin ledges or decorative features
on vertical elements can provide a foothold that encourages
tacking.

jumping: examples

Staircases provide an even progression of take-off or landing targets, making them well suited for

jumping practice. The wide, shallow stairs in A make a natural connection to the sturdy benches above.
The grassy terraces in B serve a similar purpose, and the varying distances increase the available options.
In C, stairs and terraces combine to make a wonderful spot for static, running, and dynamic jumps.

Manasquan jetty in New Jersey is formed of

concrete jacks that create an enticing

mix of regular lines mixed with the
naturalistic chaos of a boulder-field.
Jumping is one of the only standard
parkour movements possible on the
jetty. Longer lines require improvisation
and balance.

Skyline Park in Denver, CO has the scale to support both

smaller weekly gatherings and large, annual jams.

The raised lips, stair steps, and ledges make Skyline a natural
fit for jumping and climbing movements, while reducing its
potential for vault training.

Century Gardens in Calgary, AB is filled with angled

concrete forms. Its density and unique shapes make it a
popular parkour destination for Calgary athletes.

movement category: vaulting

Vaults are primarily used to pass over obstacles between knee
and chest height, but the same techniques can be used to
ascend and descend from platforms, ledges, and walls. Walls,
guard-rails, benches, and planters are all commonly used
elements that encourage vaulting.
Vaulting techniques can be separated into lowline, in which at
least one hand or foot is always in contact with a surface, and
highline, in which the athlete briefly becomes airborne.

vault flow

Vaulting: a method of overcoming an

obstacle primarily with the arms

In parkour, flow refers to the goal of making each movement

connect seamlessly to the next. Proper spacing is important.
Less than 3 feet between obstacles doesnt allow enough
room to set the feet down. Greater than 12 feet makes it
difficult to link two vaults together without extra steps.
Elements around 3 feet or slightly lower encourage vault flow
more than higher elements.

Parkour athletes often use highline vaults to launch themselves through the air toward a second element that they can
land on, vault over, or cling to the side of.

distance vaulting

Landing targets that are level with or lower than the takeoff
element encourage this technique the most.
Range is 3 to 8 feet for level elements, with range increasing
proportionally as the drop between elements increases.

level changes

Many of the same vaulting techniques used to get over obstacles can also be used to change levels with less impact than
simply jumping down.
To encourage this type of movement, keep vertical spacing
between 2 and 6 feet.
Horizontal spacing for level changes is similar to that of vault
flow. Platform widths between 3 and 8 feet are optimal for
creating flow.

vaulting: examples

Access ramps bounded by hand-rails or walls offer an appealing and common location for training
vaults. The open railings in A have more potential than grated bars that athletes cannot pass through.
The walls in B are inviting, but the protruding railings are spaced so closely together that they only get in
the way. In C, the hand-rails dont obstruct the top of the walls, resulting in a more inviting spot.

Vauxhall courtyard in London was one of the most

popular training spots in the city. Subtle variations in wall height

and ground level allow both novices and experienced athletes
to find interesting challenges at their skill level. The spacing and
arrangement allows for both highline courses focused on jumping and distance vaulting, and lowline courses focused on vault
flow.
Additionally, some of the low walls are close enough to the tall
exterior wall surrounding the area for that to be used as an element in courses as well.

Freeway Park in Seattle, WA is a popular destination for

parkour travelers from all over the country because of its scale
and variety. The following 3 sections encourage exploration and
different types of movement.
The vertical spacing in A is well suited to level change courses.
With few level changes above knee height, B is used more for
jumping than vaulting. The stairs, walls, and railings in C, further
north within the park, lend themselves to long courses and
highline vaults.

While long courses

through the entire
park are possible, most
athletes choose to train
in one area for a time
before moving on to
another section of the
park.

B
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movement category: climbing

The climbing category encompasses a wide array of
movements, from slow, bouldering-style hand transfers to
explosive swing-releases on bars. Scaffolding-like bars for
swinging on are an important element in any parkour park
because they enable movements that are difficult to practice
safely elsewhere in the urban environment.
Climbing movements are primarily enabled by the presence of
walls and bars at head height or above.

cat leaps

Climbing: a movement where the

weight is suspended from the arms

In a cat, an athlete clings to the top edge of a wall while

using their feet to brace on the vertical surface. The cat is
commonly used as the landing to a jump, vault, or swing.
Athletes land with their feet first and then grab with their
hands. Because of this, potential range can be estimated
by taking the previously listed jumping, vaulting, or swinging
distances and measuring from the take-off point to the spot
where the feet will hit, 3 to 4 feet below the top of the wall.
Cats are more difficult when the takeoff and landing surfaces
are similar in height because of the strain on the arms.

Athletes lache by swinging from a bar by the hands and releasing to cover distance into a precision, cat, or even another
lache. A bar height of 7 to 8 feet offers the best compromise
between safety and the ability to generate a powerful swing.

swinging

Beginners can lache 6 feet from the footprint of the bar while
experienced athletes can cover 9 to 12 feet.
A similar movement, called an underbar, is performed by
jumping into a tucked swing to pass through a vertical gap.
Position the bottom obstacle as if it were the landing for a
running jump, and put the grab bar 3 feet above that.

buildering

Buildering involves climbing between two points on a wall or

other vertical surface using improvised hand and foot-holds.
There are no optimal measurements for buildering. Any
architectural detail that could be grabbed with the finger-tips
or rested on with the edge of a foot can become part of a
buildering problem. Add these details in places where they
will not obstruct other movements and they will most likely be
used. Any such detail should be strong enough to support the
weight of a human pulling on it with all their force.

climbing: examples

Bar structures are a common feature at almost every parkour park. Some parks consist of little else.
These structures are not limited to only swinging applications. With bars at different heights and distances they can be used for jumping, vaulting, acrobatics, and balancing. The top bars in A are all at the same
height, which loses out on some potential variety. The vertical bars in B are built on a 5 grid, which is too
tight for larger swings and jumps. C contains a mix of high and low bars and areas of higher and lower
density.

Traversal climbing refers to moving laterally rather than vertically. In the examples above, an

interesting surface treatment has been combined with a thin, low ledge. This gives athletes somewhere
to rest their feet while they move along the wall with their arms.

Trees are attractive for casual climbing, but they can also make great parkour spots. Trees whose
branches have grown horizonally, especially near the ground, lend themselves naturally to parkour
movements like jumping and vaulting as well as the obvious climbing and swinging.
Trees can be activated by their proximity to other elements like walls. Healthy, thick branches like the
ones pictured above run little risk of damage from this use.

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3. design philosophy
The best parkour spaces allow athletes to create challenges that
integrate multiple categories of movement.
A discrete parkour area should attempt to include elements that
enable jumping, vaulting, and climbing movements. At a minimum,
this means:

Elevated bars for swinging

Waist high elements for vaulting

Medium to high walls or blocks for climbing

Rather than create specific elements for jumping, position the other
elements to encourage jumping between them. This idea can apply
to all movements, not just jumping.

Elements are less important than

the connections between them.
Unlike the bowls of a skatepark or the twists and ramps of a
mountain bike course, individual parkour elements dont have to
stand out as being specialized or unique. Walls, bars, and blocks are
already the building blocks of thousands of unintentional parkour
spots.
A good parkour park simply understands what athletes are already
looking for in the built environment and then takes it one step
further to create connections that wouldnt exist otherwise.

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design: layers
To be efficient with our space, we want all our elements to serve multiple purposes. A good exercise for
this is to imagine jumping, vaulting, and climbing as multiple layers of movement within our parkour area.

In the first layer the athlete is mostly running

through the space. They use vaults and quick
level changes to get their feet back on the
ground and accelerate towards the next
obstacle.

2
In the second layer the athlete is mostly jumping
through the space. They may run to generate
speed, but they are primarily looking for a path
that allows them to stay airborne between
elements.

3
In the third layer the athlete is trying to never
touch the ground. They are most likely moving
a bit slower so they can be precise with their
techniques. They are using climbing and swinging
movements combined with static jumps to cross
the space.

This is a good integrated parkour space because it supports each of these different layers. If we were to
redesign this with parkour in mind, however, we would want to go further. We could move the plantings to
allow the high rail to be vaulted, add features to the brick doorway to allow it to be climbed, and move the
low railing closer to the stairs to allow a jumping connection.
With only a few elements to work with, each one has to be designed and positioned optimally to make a
parkour spot come to life.

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design: variety
Variety in shape, height, type, and
angle of elements helps create multiple
levels of challenge within a space and
multiplies the parkour potential.

In A, we have an evenly spaced field of low blocks. Any

jump between two of these cubes is identical, and
jumping is the only movement available to a parkour
athlete.

In B, we start to add variety of spacing. An athlete can

now use smaller jumps to work up to larger jumps, as
well as create dynamic jumping lines.
In C, we introduce height variation. Now some of
the blocks are high enough to vault, some are high
enough to climb, and our athlete has even more
jumping opportunities available.

In D, we add variety of angle and shape. Sloped walls

allow for tacs and wall tricks, a bar adds swinging
possibilities, and the non-orthagonal angles add some
mental complexity and interest.

Even with little concious design effort,

adding variety will usually result in a
better space for parkour.

Recognizable and regular shapes are

still useful, so we dont want to angle
and deform everything. A contrast
between the regular and the unexpected
produces the best result.

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design: density
Proper spacing of elements is crucial. Elements
should have just enough space between them to be
functional, and no more. When budget and available
space are limited, increase density to get the most
out of every element.

In A, we have a small parkour park with a section

for jumping, a section for vaulting, and a section for
swinging and bar work. Each section is distinct and
isolated, making connections between them difficult.
Without changing the design of any of the sections,
version B improves the park simply by moving each
section closer together. This expands the movement
potential of the space and decreases the footprint of
the installation.
We keep the footprint similar in C, but we start to
break apart each of the original sections. Some of
our vaulting walls stay near each other, but another
moves over to interact with the bars. The jumping
blocks spread throughout the space to allow
ground-is-lava connections.
In D, we take things too far. All the elements are
crammed together until there is no longer any room
to run. Without an accessable ground plane, powerful
movements that require a running approach are
limited. Other elements sit directly in the path of
someone swinging on the high bars.

Even with these problems, version D still offers more

options and appears more inviting to parkour athletes
than version A.

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4. details: materials
concrete
Concrete is the primary material for walls, plinths, and platforms. It should always be reinforced with rebar
and produced to appropriate outdoor building standards.
All concrete edges should be eased for safety and durability. A radius or bevel may also be applied. Neither
should exceed 0.75.
The finish of exposed concrete faces is very important for safety. The primary goal of any concrete finish is
to provide a non-slip surface even in wet or dusty conditions. Consider brooming or sandblasting, and ask
your contractor for mockups if possible. As a rule of thumb, avoid any finish that leaves a shiny surface.

steel
Steel should be used for all bar and railing elements. When hollow pipe is used, it should be at least
Schedule 80 with an outer diameter of at least 1.5. Horizontal bars 5 above the ground or higher should
not exceed 3 outer diameter as this makes swinging dangerous. Bars that will not be used for swinging
may be any outer diameter.
Engineer approval should be sought for all horizontal spans above 8. A thicker or solid bar may be needed.
Care should be taken that freestanding bar structures are able to bear the peak forces that will be applied
to them. When possible, bar structures should involve two horizontal axes, especially the taller the
structure is.
Bars should be protected from corrosion. If corrosion-resistant steel is not used, bars should be finely
galvanized or treated with a durable paint or clear-coat. Matte finishes are preferred for their superior grip.

timber
Timbers can be arranged horizontally and elevated to provide jumping and vaulting surfaces. They can also
be placed vertically as anchors for bar structures or other timbers. Milled rectangular timbers as well as
natural or round timbers may be used, depending on the aesthetic needs of the project.
Milled timbers should be sanded and edges should be beveled or radiused. Natural timbers should have
their bark removed prior to installation and should be sanded to removed splinters.
Timbers installed horizonally should be bolted into place. Metal fasteners and through-bolts are preferred.
Bolts should be visable and accessable for maintanance. Any metal fasteners should be inset into the
timbers to prevent cutting or tripping athletes.

surfacing
Solid playground surfacing (tiled or pour-in-place) is preferred. Wood chips, artificial turf, and grass mats
are also acceptable for most applications. Concrete should be avoided if horizontal bar elements exceed 6
in height. Deep sand, gravel, and ground rubber make running and jumping difficult. Their use should be
confined to areas primarily based around swinging.

15

details: site selection

grade
Unintentional parkour spots almost always feature some kind of change in grade. This forces the
construction of the walls, ramps, railings, and stairs that parkour athletes gravitate to. Sites with an existing
change in grade are a natural choice for parkour parks, and will likely require features that can easily be
tweaked for parkour use.

existing elements
Along the same lines, parkour features should attempt to take advantage of existing elements. In this park
in the Netherlands, concrete forms are set along side an existing wall to create a parkour space. The forms
would be functional on their own, but their proximity to the wall dramatically increases their potential.

synergistic and conflicting use

Like any space designed for a specific activity, there will frequently be times when no one is practicing
parkour in the space. Consider ways in which the space can remain active through other user groups.
This will depend partly on location. A parkour space located near a skatepark or rock-climbing wall will likely
attract people from those user groups. They may have little experience with parkour, but still be likely to
use the space for movement or exercise. Consider signage that explains parkour and gives beginners ideas
for things they can do within the space.
A parkour area located near retail shops, a playground, or a pedestrian path will get more traffic from
children than a parkour area next to a skatepark. Consider using color and shape to draw children to a
specific area within the parkour space that has open sight-lines and lower-height elements.
Finally, most parkour elements can easily double as informal seating. Consider placing the most attractive
seating on the perimeter of the parkour area to give observers a clear view of the action without becoming
an obstacle themselves.

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4. resources
These guidelines are produced by Parkour Visions, a non-profit teaching, design, and advocacy organization.
A permanent link to the latest version of these guidelines, as well as contact information and a portfolio of
Parkour Visions design work, can be found at our website:

http://parkourvisions.org/parks
Juliet Vong is the President of HBB Landscape Architecture and a member of Parkour Visions board:

http://www.hbbseattle.com/people/principals/
There is no complete directory for existing spaces designed for parkour. We manage an informal list here:

https://trello.com/b/H7wAgQBX/parks
The first purpose-built parkour parks came from StreetMovement in Denmark. You can see their work here:

http://www.streetmovement.dk

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