Post-war urbanization and the rapid growth of traffic had a transformative effect on the courtyards in inner-city Helsinki. Although not designed for play, courtyards had served as spaces where children could spend time and meet. The increased presence of both moving and parked cars in the yards, coupled with the scarcity of playgrounds elsewhere in the inner city, sparked intense debates in Helsinki during the 1970s. At the same time, initiatives were launched to enhance some of the courtyards according to ambitious plans. Despite these efforts, the transformation of courtyards into car-free, child-friendly areas proved to be a challenging task. Through an analysis of various sources, including reports, pamphlets, planning documents, guides, interviews and a range of articles addressing inner-city courtyards from six major newspapers, this article examines the debate surrounding children and inner-city courtyards. Studying the debates and efforts targeting the courtyards sheds new light on the history of play spaces that has often focused on playgrounds and newly built areas. It also offers a perspective on the changing concepts of children's spaces and needs in urban areas, the effects of motorization, the standardization of play and the interconnections of all three.