A Street Market with Something for the Whole Family.
Reffen is an outdoor food market located on the outskirts of Copenhagen. Built-in a previously industrial location, many of the food shops are made of large shipping containers and painted in bold lively colors. One might not think of a food market at first for a family-friendly environment, but Reffen is sure to break this misconception.
While strolling around, one of the few food stores featuring a pop-up tarp cover to keep people warm was found playing children’s songs; Many of which were Halloween oriented( as Halloween was only several days away). Children and Adults danced along and their joy was quite contagious. Talking to a local shop owner I learned that activities such as this are very common. Visting in the colder weather, many people gravitate towards the covered warmed areas- but in the summer kids and their families can be found laughing and enjoying the food all area Reffen’s property. Many kids will be found playing with other kids, and sometimes different food places will organize activities.
Food selections are also large- which can be a great asset for families with picky children. Parents can indulge in the food choice of their preference without having to downgrade so that their child can be bought something they will eat
There are a wide variety of picnic tables that are suitable for families to eat at. Children can be messy eaters and often times need the tablespace to eat without making a mess( and even then some kids still manage to make quite a mess). Sitting on just a bench or chair alone may make it difficult for parents/guardians to help their child eat (since young kids often lack the coordination or balance to hold multiple items) while also trying to eat themselves. The benches are also (based on my visual assessment) the appropriate height for children to sit at without the need for a booster seat. My one concern would be that there did not appear to be any tables that would be wheelchair friendly in the sense of that someone in a wheelchair would be able to comfortably have their legs under the table so that they can reach their food with ease.
The walkways around the food shops were quite wide, and provided enough space for mobility assisting devices and strollers to comfortably share the pathways. This can be quite an important factor for families deciding if they should or should not visit a space- as navigating crowded areas with assistive devices can be extremely stressful and uncomfortable. My one concern however regarding mobility is that reffen is a somewhat far walk from the nearest public transit stop, and for elder persons who use partial assistive devices. This could be things such as a cane or walker. Navigating to the facility alone might be quite difficult for this population of people.
Not only are the eating facilities family-friendly, but there is also open space for children to ride their bikes and play closer to the water. It features ramps that allow kids to try maneuver their bikes into different tricks. Families can make a whole afternoon out of visiting, instead of just coming to eat a meal. This can also be useful because if children are getting fussy eating-parents can redirect them to play in the open designated area.
Overall, as far as dining locations go, Reffen is a great choice for families to make use of when it’s open!
Author: Caitlyn Marshall
Work Cited: 1st image- Reffen – Copenhagen Street Food. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2019, from https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/planning/reffen-copenhagen-street-food-gdk1101719.
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