How portsmouth bucked the trend: city’s bold investment in youth spaces pays off two decades later

While councils across England slashed budgets for youth services over the past two decades, Portsmouth made a different choice. The coastal city prioritized keeping its playgrounds and youth centers open, particularly in areas serving low-income families – and the long-term benefits of that decision are now clearly visible.

At Buckland adventure playground, nestled among social housing that replaced the city’s former slums, three generations of children have now grown up using the same wooden forts, sandpits, and play equipment. On any given afternoon, the space buzzes with activity: schoolchildren chase footballs across the grounds, toddlers explore the sandpit, and families gather in a community space that might not exist if Portsmouth had followed the same austerity path as many other municipalities.

The playground sits in a neighborhood of mixed housing – two-story flats, terraced houses, and tower blocks surrounded by trees – representing the kind of area where youth services are often first to face budget cuts. Yet Portsmouth’s decision to maintain these facilities has created lasting community infrastructure that continues serving families decades later.

This success story stands in stark contrast to other coastal areas facing severe deprivation, where youth centers are closing due to funding shortages. Portsmouth’s experience demonstrates how municipal investment in youth infrastructure can create lasting environmental and social benefits for communities, providing safe outdoor spaces where children can play and families can connect across generations. The city’s approach offers a model for how local governments can support both community well-being and environmental health through sustained commitment to public spaces.