Tartu junk playground returns for second summer

The Estonian National Adventure Playground (Eesti Rahva Kolahoov) is back for its second summer in Tartu, offering children a place to create, build and explore using loose scraps and open-ended play. Located on the outdoor grounds of the Estonian National Museum (ERM) near Raadi Manor, the site is filled with pallets, pipe fittings, wood scraps, buckets, barrels, cable reels and other odds and ends.

The playground welcomes kids and teens aged 6–16 starting Tuesday. An all-ages community cleanup day on Sunday helped prepare the yard for reopening, with local children lending a hand. Among them were Älis and Lenna, who shared their building plans. "Last year we came with a big group and we built a pretty big house," said Älis. "This year we'll start by building a castle, and then after that, I'm not even sure yet," added Lenna.

For both kids, the junk playground offers a welcome change of pace during the summer break. "What are you supposed to do all summer? You're bored and just sit around watching TV," Älis said. "But now we can come here and build something for ourselves." Lenna echoed the sentiment, noting she enjoys building and doing things there. "Last year I really liked painting the walls and thinking about what would go where and what kind of house to build," she said. The chance to make new friends is another draw, as Älis pointed out: "You can build stuff with them, and visit each other's houses — if they give you permission to come in, of course."

Leene Kolp, one of the project's main organizers, said adults can appreciate the value of such play by reflecting on their own childhoods. "When we were kids, play — real play — looked like sneaking off away from adult eyes, usually somewhere outside, and just playing with all kinds of loose junk," Kolp explained. "All those elements that promote well-being are already built into play, so this offers so much at once. It's a real shame kids don't have more opportunities like this, so we're just trying to provide a little bit of that."

In 2025, the Estonian National Adventure Playground was nominated for the Estonian Association of Landscape Architects' (EMAL) Annual Award for Co-created Space. The playground is open Tuesday through Friday from 1–5 p.m. throughout August. Admission is free.