DCC Beta the Dublin City Councils testing labs is trialling organised play streets to give space, for a limited time, back to childrens play.Play streets are residential streets that are temporarily closed to through traffic so children can play safely outdoors in cities, often where children once played before cars dominated streets. The modus operandi of DCC Beta is to basically take concepts such as Bike Bunkers, art on utility boxes, and cargo bike share and test them within their local physical, legal and administrative context. As always, they are looking for public input during every stage of the trial process. Today, DCC Beta said: The #PlayStreetsBETA trial began today. To help us learn more widely, there will be various phases to the project. We wont begin to use the gates until a few weeks time (shown below from the inside of the space).We would very much appreciate your questions, feedback and suggestions throughout, DCC Beta said. In a recent update, on the same Bluesky thread, DCC Beta said: This morning, we began the onsite work for a #PlayStreetBETA trial in Stoneybatter, aiming to go live over the next few weeks.The photos show barriers for the play street trial, which were made by the councils joinery workshop, and fold into planters.During pedestrianised hours, people can walk through as usual on the footpaths or can cycle/scoot through using the gap between gates (with the gates providing some visibility through), DCC Beta explained. During non-pedestrianised times with the gates folded back they look and act like regular planter boxes.The play street trial also includes testing the use of gas keys, a common triangular key, to hold the gates in position. DCC Beta said one of the councils metal fabricator staff members created the prototype.MORE: Dccbeta.ie/project/article/play-streetsIMAGE: DCC Beta.