Children leave their mark on the future Longyearbyen

What do the children want in the Longyearbyen of the future? More slides, swings and climbing frames, of course.

Now the children of Polarflokken kindergarten have delivered their input to the revision of the land use plan directly to the head of Longyearbyen lokalstyre (the local council), Terje Aunevik.

The revision of the land use plan is about how Longyearbyen is to be developed in the years to come. To get the best possible basis for the work, residents, organisations and other stakeholders are invited to submit input. The youngest residents also have important perspectives.

This week the children of Polarflokken kindergarten handed over their wishes to the head of the local council, Terje Aunevik. The wish list included many slides, more swings around town, a boat playground structure, an aeroplane playground structure by Spisshusene, chocolate slides and a candy land of their own.

"In the work on everything we are to have of new housing, pipes and a lot of technical infrastructure, it is easy to forget the people who are to live in the middle of it. We also need space for play, light, activity and pleasant places to meet. The input from Polaflokken kindergarten is a lovely and important reminder of exactly that. Chocolate slides and Candyland may not be so easy to regulate into a land use plan, but their creativity and their outlook we must bring with us," says Terje Aunevik.

The kindergarten staff also put forward some wishes on behalf of the children. Among the proposals are more climbing frames around town, as well as cabins or barbecue cabins at popular hiking areas such as the skating rink, Elvesletta south and the sea area. In addition they propose colourful floodlights in the centre that can inspire more play and activity outdoors in the polar night.

All input received during the consultation period will be included in the further work on the land use plan.