Play has always been an element of the culture of each place. Over the years the ideas about the configuration of the game reflected the perceptions and needs of the society. In early 20^th century the child, which formerly belonged to a marginalized group of citizens, was found in the spotlight. Several scientists focused on its needs and many artists were inspired by it.

In the 20^th century the child suffered from the building density of modern cities which made free play in the street, up to a point, extremely dangerous. The playground is a phenomenon of modern urban design that came to provide the solution to this problem. The new trend for dissociation of urban functions made playgrounds an integral part of the city.

This research starts from a broader look at the concept of play and examines important playground models created in the 20^th century, both from the side of equipment and from the closer or open character concerning the city. Each of these playgrounds constitutes a different approach to facilitate the child's play in town. In the last part, reference in made to the situation in Greece.