Four local authorities in London are now under the control of the Green Party and now is the perfect time to reach out to new councillors to urge them to prioritise children’s play.

The 2026 London local elections have brought a significant shift in parts of the capital, with the Green Party now in control of Hackney, Lewisham and Waltham Forest, alongside a Green-led minority administration in Haringey.

This marks the first time the party has held governing responsibility at this scale in London, giving it direct influence over a wide range of local decisions that shape children’s everyday environments and experiences.

The Green Party’s approach to local government typically focuses on reducing traffic dominance, improving air quality, expanding walking and cycling infrastructure, and increasing access to green space. In practice, these policies can create conditions that support more informal street play and independent movement. Some Green-controlled councils also place emphasis on improving and rethinking public space, including pocket parks, greener streets and the reuse of underused sites. While not always framed explicitly as play policy, these changes can significantly affect the everyday spaces where children play.

However, councils are operating under continued financial pressure, and political control does not automatically translate into increased funding for play services such as parks maintenance, youth services or staffed adventure playgrounds.  At this stage, the long-term impact of these political changes is still emerging. What is clear is that several key policy areas — including transport, public space and environmental design — are now likely to be higher priorities in parts of London, all of which are closely linked to children’s opportunities to play.

Get involved: invite your councillors to the Parade for Play

This is a key moment for newly formed councils to set their priorities for the years ahead. We are encouraging families, practitioners and supporters across London to contact their new councillors and invite them to the Parade for Play this International Day of Play – and to ask what they will do to make their borough more playable for children.

Click the image (left) and find template messages to make it easy to get involved.