In an afternoon somewhere in Estonia, the sound of bouncing basketballs echoes through a neighborhood park. A group of teenagers dribbles and shoots hoops, while a younger child watches eagerly before joining in. A few meters away, a father and daughter pass a football back and forth, laughing as they chase it across the grass. None of them brought a ball from home. They didn’t need to. They found what they needed inside a blue colored, weatherproof ballbox, placed conveniently at the edge of the park. The concept is simple: open the box, take a ball, play and return it when you're done. No sign-ups, no fees, just free and easy access to sports and play. This is the Ballbox project, a grassroots initiative from the Estonian Competence Center of Physical Activity that is quietly transforming the way Estonians use public spaces and schoolyards. Already 100 ballboxes are spread over Estonia.
Never a missed opportunity
Studies show that schoolyards in Estonia are unused up to 70% of the time outside school hours (Estonian Ministry of Education, 2023). While many schools have high-quality sports facilities, these spaces are often locked after 5 PM or remain inaccessible to the broader community. Public parks, on the other hand, are open, but lack basic sports materials. Even when schoolyards and parks are open, people not always carry a ball with them. A small barrier like that can make the difference between an active afternoon and a missed opportunity for movement. The ballbox removes that barrier. By offering free-to-use ballboxes in schoolyards, parks and playgrounds, it ensures that whenever someone feels like playing, the balls are right there, waiting for them.
Built on trust, powered by play
The idea is built on trust and community responsibility, a principle that, at first, raised some concerns. Would people return the balls? Would the boxes be vandalized? The first results are promising. Since its launch, the ballboxes have been heavily used, with most people respecting the system. Some locations have seen occasional ball disappearances, but rather than seeing this as a failure, organizers have used these experiences to refine their approach for the future.
There’s something about the simplicity of it. The moment kids realize they can just grab a ball and play, they do. And surprisingly, they return them too. It’s a natural cycle of give and take.
Embracing and interacting
Beyond just providing sports materials, the Ballbox project is changing the way people interact with public spaces. In several neighborhoods, locals have begun taking ownership of the boxes, ensuring they remain in good condition. Parents remind their kids to return balls and even park visitors without children have been spotted tidying up the boxes.
Schools have also embraced the concept, seeing it as a way to extend physical activity beyond structured lessons. During school hours, it’s an extra resource for PE classes. After school, it becomes something even more powerful, an invitation to move. Children who might not have otherwise played a sport find themselves kicking a ball around just because it’s there. Teenagers who once sat on the sidelines now join in on spontaneous games. Families out for a walk in the park end up staying longer, playing together.
“... whenever someone feels like playing, the balls are right there, waiting for them.”
More than a few missing balls
No project comes without obstacles. One of the biggest challenges has been ensuring the long-term sustainability of the initiative. As ball retention is an ongoing issue, some locations see balls disappear faster than others. In response, the team has started testing different types of balls and monitoring which locations have the highest success rates.
Expanding the initiative requires partnerships. To keep growing, the Estonian Competence Center of Physical Activity works closely with schools, city governments and sports organizations. Despite these challenges, the overall success of the project has been undeniable. Even when a few balls go missing, the number of people who actually use and return them far outweighs the losses. And every ball in play is a child moving instead of sitting indoors.
Estonia2035
The Ballbox may be small, but it carries a big idea, one that aligns closely with Estonia’s ambition to become the most physically active nation in Europe, as outlined in Estonia2035. At its core, the project promotes a healthier society by making movement easy, spontaneous and part of everyday life. It also reflects the value of community-driven solutions. The system works because people take responsibility. At the same time, the Ballbox project is an example of smart urban thinking: no new buildings, just better use of existing public space. In doing so, the project brings Estonia’s future vision to life.
Estonia and abroad
With the Ballbox project proving its value, the next step is to continue the project at a larger Estonian scale as well as internationally. In Estonia, more Ballboxes are expected to be placed in new locations. Data collected from the first phase of the project will help identify the best placement strategies.
But the project’s reach doesn’t stop at Estonia’s borders. Through an Erasmus+ collaboration, initiated by the ESWAM, the Ballbox concept will be tested in different urban environments. The goal? To see how it adapts to different cultures, climates and community dynamics.
A simple act
At its core, the Ballbox is more than just a box of balls. It represents a shift in thinking about public spaces, a recognition that accessibility isn’t just about having a place to play, but about making it easy and inviting to do so. Most of all, it’s about removing the little barriers that stop people from playing because sometimes, all it takes to turn an empty field into a lively game is the simple act of providing a ball. Next time you walk past a Ballbox, don’t hesitate to take, play, return and keep the game going.
Alo Lõoke Board member @ Competence Centre for Physical Activity >>