Czech children petition mayor to save their beloved adventure playground

Children in the South Bohemian town of Jindřichův Hradec are taking matters into their own hands after learning that their favorite playground may not reopen next year. Armed with a petition and pages of signatures, they visited the town's mayor to make their case.

Unlike traditional playgrounds with swings and slides, the Adventure Playground Denisova gave children wood, tools, and space to build whatever they imagined. From small houses to makeshift hideouts, young visitors could create their own structures and develop practical skills through independent play.

But the playground's future is now uncertain. The project was funded through the town's participatory budget, which allows residents to help decide how public money is spent. Its operation was intended to be temporary, and funding has now ended.

Rather than accept the closure, two boys named Vojta and Jáchym decided to organize a petition calling for the playground to return next year.

The boys collected signatures from other children who had enjoyed the space, explaining the petition to younger visitors who could not yet read. Those unable to write their names could even express their support by drawing pictures.

Eleven-year-old Tereza was among those who signed. She told Czech Radio that she and her brother had built a small house together and enjoyed visiting the playground after school.

The petition also called for the playground to become a year-round attraction rather than a temporary project.

With several pages of signatures collected, the children brought their request directly to Mayor Michal Kozár.

Kozár welcomed the young petitioners into his office and listened to their concerns.

While he could not promise that the playground would return, he assured the children that their request would be taken seriously and discussed with his colleagues at an upcoming meeting.

The mayor explained that the playground had originally been selected as a winning project under the town's participatory budgeting scheme, meaning its funding and operating period were limited from the outset.

The children have already dismantled their wooden creations, but their campaign could help determine whether the space returns in 2027.

For now, the decision rests with the town's leadership.