Children are shaping the future of Longyearbyen

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

The children at Polarflokken Preschool have now submitted their input on the revision of the land-use plan directly to Local Council Chair Terje Aunevik.

The revision of the land-use plan concerns how Longyearbyen will be developed in the coming years. To ensure the best possible foundation for this work, residents, organizations, and other stakeholders are invited to provide input. Even the youngest residents have important perspectives to share.

This week, the children at Polarflokken Daycare Center presented their wishes to Local Council Chair Terje Aunevik. Their wish list included, among other things, lots of slides, more swings around town, a boat-shaped playground structure, an airplane-shaped playground structure near Spisshusene, chocolate slides, and their very own candy land.

“When we’re working on all the new housing, pipes, and technical infrastructure we need, it’s easy to forget the people who will be living right in the middle of it all. We also need space for play, light, activity, and pleasant places to meet. The input from Kullungen Preschool is a wonderful and important reminder of just that. Chocolate slides and Candy Land might not be so easy to incorporate into a land-use plan, but we must take their creativity and perspective with us,” says Terje Aunevik.

The daycare staff also highlighted some wishes on behalf of the children. Among the suggestions are more climbing structures around the city, as well as cabins or barbecue huts near popular recreational areas such as the ice rink, Elvesletta South, and the waterfront. In addition, they suggest colorful floodlights in the city center that could inspire more play and activity outdoors during the dark winter months.

All input received during the public comment period will be incorporated into the ongoing work on the land-use plan.