Closing party at Schottenring: Play streets enchant Vienna 2025!

Closing party at Schottenring: Play streets enchant Vienna 2025!

On September 17, 2025, the final party of the play street project “Playfully through Vienna 2025” took place at Schottenring, which was carried out from May to September. This successful project covered a total of 18 play streets in 18 districts of Vienna and reached a remarkable 2,349 participants, two thirds of whom were children up to 14 years old and 7 percent were seniors aged 65 and over. The event was organized by the Vienna Family Association, in cooperation with the district and the City of Vienna - Youth. 

Vice Mayor Bettina Emmerling emphasized the improvement in quality of life through the game design initiative, while district leader Markus Figl emphasized the importance of public space for all generations. This initiative took place for the third time and was initiated and coordinated by the City of Vienna and the JUVIVO association. JUVIVO is committed to the creative use of traffic-free streets and thus to reclaiming them as living spaces.

Diverse offers for young and old

The play streets had a wide range of offerings and included, among other things, swing cloths, juggling balls, diabolos, stilts, giant soap bubbles, football, taster boxes and bicycle workshops. Musicians also organized a string concert at a play street in the 9th district, which further enriched the program. By regularly closing road sections to motorized traffic, additional scope was created, which benefits children and young people.

The discussions between organizers, residents and drivers serve to promote understanding and acceptance of the play streets. In conjunction with regular implementation and professional support, the play streets achieve lasting positive effects for the neighborhoods. In addition, the play streets in districts 9, 12 and 15 already have a tradition and are supported by local youth employment agencies and childcare facilities.

The importance of scope for development

The project has clear goals: to provide additional play space, to revive a “street play culture” and to promote playing together in the neighborhood. Children and young people need opportunities to play and exercise outdoors as they are often crowded out by parked or moving cars, as well as by adults who cite needs for rest or safety reasons. To counteract this, the concept of game planning, which takes place in several stages, has become increasingly important.

When planning the game, important aspects such as the identification of informal play areas by children and young people as well as the assessment of potential and the development of suitable measures are brought into focus. Measures to secure and create new play and recreation areas are seen as a long-term orientation framework for municipal development.

The play street “Playfully through Vienna 2025” impressively shows how targeted measures can improve public space for all generations. These projects offer children and adults the opportunity to reclaim streets as a living space and actively shape them.

More information about the play streets and their offerings can be found on the pages of the Vienna Family Association, JUVIVO and Child-friendly municipalities available.