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Children's stark view of Asunción: Lack of green spaces, dangerous traffic highlight urban neglect
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

Children's stark view of Asunción: Lack of green spaces, dangerous traffic highlight urban neglect

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Children in Asunción, Paraguay, express dissatisfaction with the city's lack of safe green spaces and dangerous traffic.
  • Urban planners note that Asunción is not designed with children's needs in mind, prioritizing a productive age group over all ages.
  • The article highlights the need for age-appropriate infrastructure, safe and well-maintained public spaces, and inclusive urban planning to create a child-friendly city.

Children in Asunción, Paraguay, have voiced their concerns about the city's hostile environment, citing a lack of green spaces, dilapidated playgrounds, and dangerous traffic. On Paraguay's Children's Day, celebrated on August 16, the stark reality for many children is a city that limits their basic right to play freely and safely.

I would like there to be more security in the plazas, that children can play in peace, without fear that someone will come and scare us.

— OwenA 9-year-old boy describing his ideal Asunción.

Owen, a 9-year-old, dreams of a city with more secure plazas where children can play without fear. His desires are simple: safe public spaces, not complex attractions. This sentiment underscores a broader issue highlighted by urban planners like Guadalupe Quiñónez from the collective Guara. She states that Asunción's public spaces are not designed for children, but rather for a "productive" age group, neglecting the needs of all ages.

Quiñónez criticizes the urban planning process, which often ignores children's perspectives, wrongly assuming they lack valid opinions. She emphasizes that children are thinking individuals with their own views. The collective Guara points out that urban projects are frequently finalized without public consultation or inclusive facilities, forcing families to stay indoors due to a lack of quality public options.

Our public spaces are not designed for children; the city today is destined for a productive age group. Planning is needed that incorporates all ages, that guarantees safe equipment and adequate infrastructure.

— Guadalupe QuiñónezAn architect from the collective Guara, explaining the lack of child-centric urban design in Asunción.

Creating a city that is truly child-friendly requires specific considerations: infrastructure tailored to different age groups from 0 to 18, with colorful and appropriate play equipment. Walkable sidewalks, functional ramps, and well-maintained, hazard-free pavements are essential. Furthermore, consistent safety and maintenance, including adequate lighting and secure play structures, are crucial for children to inhabit and enjoy the city with freedom and autonomy.

Children are ignored in urban planning because it is thought that they do not know, and that is a lie. We do not consider them thinking people, but they are, they have their opinions.

— Guadalupe QuiñónezArchitect Guadalupe Quiñónez criticizing the exclusion of children's perspectives in urban planning.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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