A praça da várzea como espaço de lazer para criança e adolescentes

Abstract

This research analyzes Pinto Dâmaso Square—popularly known as Várzea Square—located in the Várzea neighborhood of Recife (Brazil), as a public space for leisure and social life, focusing on children’s and adolescents’ appropriation. The study is grounded on the understanding of leisure as a social right and an urban function that depends on material, symbolic, and management conditions enabling broader access and more diverse uses, also intersecting with everyday, place-based tourism dynamics. Accordingly, the general objective was to assess to what extent Várzea Square fosters leisure appropriation by children and adolescents, supported by specific objectives addressing access and accessibility, socio-environmental comfort, leisure infrastructure/equipment, and motivations and barriers reported by users and guardians. A case study design with a predominantly descriptive approach was adopted, integrating quantitative and qualitative data. Data collection included a semi-open structured questionnaire administered through Google Forms between May and June 2024, totaling 51 valid responses, as well as field visits with photographic records and systematic observations guided by an instrument aligned with the questionnaire. Findings indicate frequent family use of the square, although with low adolescent representation and a strong concentration of activities around the playground and the sports court. Key barriers include perceived insecurity, insufficient lighting, poor accessibility, lack of signage, limited shade, and damaged play equipment, in addition to conflicts associated with the disordered occupation of space by informal commerce on specific days and times. Recurring demands highlight the renovation and maintenance of the playground, expansion of sports facilities, strengthened institutional security, landscape improvement, and regular cultural and recreational programming. The study concludes that expanding children’s and adolescents’ appropriation requires integrated urban design interventions and active management strategies to consolidate the square as a democratic leisure environment and a catalyst for community belonging.