Part 1. What's the problem? -- A social problem -- Children and free time -- Part 2. How are neighborhoods solving this problem? -- Yale Road : Menlo Park, Calif. : an oasis of play in an affluent suburb -- Lyman Place : South Bronx, N.Y. : a safe refuge for play in a poor urban neighborhood -- Share-it Square : Portland, Ore. : an intersection where kids and adults play -- The waters : Pike Road, Ala. : A new urbanism community with a focus on family -- The Playscape revolution : Iowa City, Iowa : A natural playscape in every yard -- N Street : Davis, Calif. : A retrofit cohousing community -- Dibble Avenue : Seattle : Frank the builder builds community -- Iris Way : Palo Alto, Calif. : a neighborhood summer camp -- Part 3. How can I solve this problem? -- Move to a potential playborhood -- Create a neighborhood hangout -- Keep kids' lives simple -- Make a village -- Encourage self-reliance -- Let them roam with mobile phones.