Council FAQ: Is Parkour Equipment High-Risk? We Have the Numbers.
- Alex Reco
- Oct 20
- 2 min read
When evaluating new community infrastructure, a critical question for any local council or organization is: Is parkour too dangerous to justify the investment?
The public perception of parkour, often shaped by extreme stunts seen online, is misleading. At Parkour Australia, and based on our foundational work with facilities like Newcastle Parkour, we use data and compliance to manage risk. The truth, supported by doccuements like the Parkour White Paper (2021), is that a purpose-built parkour facility is not a high-risk liability—it is a safe, beneficial, and highly popular public asset.
1. The Data: Parkour is Safer Than Common Sports
To address the risk concern directly, we look at the injury data compiled in the Parkour White Paper, which measures acute and stress injuries per 1,000 hours of training. Parkour’s rate is remarkably low, especially when compared to other popular, council-supported sports:
As the data shows, participants are four times more likely to get injured playing Squash and nearly double the likelihood of injury playing Basketball than they are practicing parkour. Furthermore, the paper notes that injuries sustained during parkour generally have a faster healing time than those in other sports like football (soccer).
2. The Mitigation: Compliance is Liability Protection
The most effective way to address perceived risk is by adhering to official, mandated safety standards.
The Standard: The adoption of the Australian/European Standard AS EN 16899:2020 provides a clear, enforceable framework for developing parkour equipment. This standard specifies requirements for the design, manufacture, and installation of facilities.
Protection: By working with Parkour Australia—who designs and consults to this Standard—councils receive protection by ensuring the equipment is officially compliant, thereby reducing liability concerns.
3. The Philosophy: Safe by Design
Our Director, Alex Rzechowicz, developed his philosophy with the former Newcastle Parkour on the principle of "improving lives and reducing harm.". This safety-first approach underpins our work:
Custom-Built vs. Street Use: Parkour is going to happen regardless. Our equipment provides a safe, purpose-built environment that naturally redirects movement away from inappropriate, hazardous public furniture (which increases council liability).
The Market Garden Case Study: Our Market Garden Parkour Spot in Newcastle transformed a barren alleyway into a hybrid space that safely encourages active movement. This council-approved facility showcases how structures can be "Safe by Design" to blend public seating and functional movement structures, successfully legitimizing the activity.
The bottom line is that parkour's high demand (it is the most Google-searched unstructured sport globally) combined with the low, measurable risk when facilities are AS EN 16899:2020 compliant makes it a clear choice for high-value public space activation.
Ready to confidently invest in your next community asset? Parkour Australia provides the expert consultation and standards-compliant designs you need to ensure your project is safe, popular, and a success for your community.
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