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Nike Tokyo Opens Free Outdoor Playground Inspired By Their Shoes, Includes 6 Areas For Young & Old

Nike Tokyo’s TOKYO SPORT PLAYGROUND


Nike Tokyo recently opened an outdoor sports park in Toyosu on 10th October 2020. The park features 6 areas inspired by iconic Nike shoes representative of the past 6 decadeswhere you can engage in activities such as basketball, skateboarding, yoga, and dance. 

Wheelchair-friendly and eco-friendly initiatives are also found in the park, making it a place that everyone can enjoy.


Nike’s TOKYO SPORT PLAYGROUND opens in Toyosu


nike tokyo playground - entrance
Image credit: TOKYO SPORT PLAYGROUND

nike tokyo playground - nike Tokyo playground
Image credit: Nike Tokyo

Nike Tokyo’s TOKYO SPORT PLAYGROUND SPORT x ART officially opened its doors on 10th October 2020. The TOKYO SPORT PLAYGROUND is an outdoor sports park that is free for public use. It is located just a 2-minute walk from Shin-Toyosu Station. 

nike tokyo playground - site area
Image credit: Nike Tokyo

The park measures close to 7,000sqm – the size of 14 basketball courts. It is one of the few sports parks in the city of Tokyo. The park is not a permanent feature, however – it will only be open until 20th September 2021. The park is open from 3PM-9PM on weekdays and 10AM-9PM on weekends, but do note that reservations have to be made in advance via the Nike app.


6 areas for different activities


nike tokyo playground - overview of 6 areas
Image credit: TOKYO SPORT PLAYGROUND

The park comprises 6 areas inspired by popular Nike shoes representative of the past 6 decades, from the 1960s to the 2010s. 

nike tokyo playground - Cortez track 1964
Image credit: Nike Tokyo

nike tokyo playground - cortez track with BRS
Image credit: TOKYO SPORTS PLAYGROUND

The Cortez Track is a 280m-long running track inspired by the Nike Cortez, first launched in the late 1960s when Nike was still known as Blue Ribbon Sports. The running track, which surrounds the entire park, sports the Blue Ribbon Sports logo as a homage to Nike’s roots.

nike tokyo playground - waffle trainer square
Image credit: TOKYO SPORT PLAYGROUND

nike tokyo playground - waffle trainer square yoga dance
A group of ladies from Fitvibes Tokyo after a yoga and dance session at the Waffle Trainer Square
Image credit: @cocosmile100

Representing the 1970s, the Waffle Trainer Square was inspired by Nike’s first running shoe, the Nike Waffle Trainer, which boasts distinctive rubber waffle soles. The Waffle Trainer Square is an open multi-purpose plaza where you can engage in different activities such as yoga and dance.

nike tokyo playground - acg adventure
Image credit: TOKYO SPORT PLAYGROUND

nike tokyo playground - acg adventure top view
Image credit: TOKYO SPORT PLAYGROUND

The ACG Adventure features a 3D climbing fixture that can be scaled from any direction. This is a tribute to the Nike ACG shoes from the 1980s, which were designed for outdoor hiking and climbing.

nike tokyo playground - air raid court
Image credit: TOKYO SPORT PLAYGROUND

nike tokyo playground - air raid court top
Image credit: TOKYO SPORT PLAYGROUND

The Air Raid Court is a 3×3 basketball court that has a colourful court design inspired by the Nike Air Raid from the 1990s. Those shoes catered to those who played basketball on hard asphalt courts.

nike tokyo playground - skate park
Image credit: TOKYO SPORT PLAYGROUND

nike tokyo playground - skateboard gif
Image adapted from: @ryuichi_kabeta

The SB Dunk Skate Plaza is fitted with elements of street skateboarding, including steers, banks, boxes, and rails for skating enthusiasts. This area was inspired by the Nike SB Dunk of the 2000s, which was designed specifically for skateboarding.

nike tokyo playground - air max terrace
Image credit: TOKYO SPORT PLAYGROUND

Last but not least, the Air Max Terrace is a raised rest area overlooking the whole park. It was inspired by the popular Air Max of the 2010s, which features pressurised airbags in its soles for extra cushioning.

These 6 areas are open for public use and are meant for everyone, but children under the age of 13 have to be accompanied by an adult at all times for safety’s sake.


Inclusivity and sustainability initiatives within the park


nike tokyo playground - reception
Image credit: TOKYO SPORT PLAYGROUND

The park was designed by Nike and Harper’s Playground, a non-profit organisation based in Portland, Oregon. The latter supports the design of creative and accessible playgrounds for children of all ages and abilities. The park is completely barrier-free, and even the slopes were designed with gentle inclines so that wheelchair users can navigate it safely. The park is even equipped with a charger for electric wheelchairs to recharge on the go.

nike tokyo playground - universal toilets
Image credit: TOKYO SPORT PLAYGROUND

The clubhouse located at the entrance of the park is fitted with universal toilets and shower rooms that can be used by people in wheelchairs as well.

nike tokyo playground - air raid court
Image credit: @centerpoletime

Parts of the flooring within the park are made of Nike Grind, one of Nike’s sustainable initiatives. It is made of a mixture of recycled surplus materials, such as rubber, foam, leather, and fibre. 

nike tokyo playground - lounge area
Image credit: TOKYO SPORT PLAYGROUND

The chairs, tables, and accessories of the lounge space are made of materials from demolished houses and discarded wood pallets. 

nike tokyo playground - water dispenser
Image credit: TOKYO SPORT PLAYGROUND

To reduce the amount of plastic waste generated by park users, there are no vending machines in the park. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own water bottles, which can be refilled at the free water dispenser in the park.


TOKYO SPORT PLAYGROUND


The different areas within the TOKYO SPORTS PLAYGROUND cater to different groups of people. Even if you’re not up for a basketball game at the Air Raid Court, you can do yoga with a few close friends at the Waffle Trainer Square. The best part is that admission is free.

TOKYO SPORT PLAYGROUND SPORT x ART
Address: 6-4-1 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0061
Opening hours: Mon – Fri 3PM-9PM | Sat & Sun 10AM-9PM (Last admission at 8PM)
Nearest station: Shin-Toyosu Station
Website

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Cover image adapted from: Nike Tokyo, @hanonlovesk8 & @centerpoletime