Last week in Belgrade, something powerful happened through a very simple activity. Right in the city centre, in Mali Tašmajdan Park, a green space surrounded by busy streets, a group of project partners took a moment to slow down and really experience the park. They looked, listened, smelled, and felt the space around them.

It was a reminder that even in familiar places, there’s so much we don’t see, until we take the time to stop and observe. In this article, you’ll not only read about what we discovered, but also find easy instructions to try this hands-on exercise in your own project or neighborhood.

This was no ordinary walk in the park. It was a sensory mapping exercise - an activity that teaches you how to observe, understand and connect with a space. Led by Dimitra from STIPO Greece, an urban development team renowned for their participatory approach to public spaces and neighborhood revitalisation. The goal? to unlock new ways of seeing the familiar.

And it worked.

Though the park is nestled in the heart of Belgrade, most of us had never been there before. Even those who had walked its paths countless times were amazed at what they noticed once they were asked to pause and tune into their senses. Spotting what delights us, like birdsong or sunshine on a bench, but also what disturbs us, like the strong smell from an overfilled trash bin. Not every sense leads to a pleasant discovery, and that’s the point. This method helps us notice everything—the good and bad. 

Why does this matter?

Because great placemaking starts with observation. It starts with being present in a space, not just looking at it through planning tools or data, but experiencing it like a real user would. This kind of exercise helps build empathy with the area and its people, leading to more informed, inclusive, and meaningful interventions.

How to run your own sensory mapping exercise

Whether you’re activating a forgotten park, rethinking a public square, or working with communities to co-create new active spaces - this activity is an excellent starting point. Here’s how you can do it:

1.Prepare the map

Download a map of the area—Google Maps works well, or OpenStreetMap if you prefer clean outlines. Ensure the scale is appropriate: not too big, not too small. Participants need enough space to annotate, but it should still be readable.

2. Print and equip

Print enough copies for your group. Gather some colorful markers, sticky notes, or even stickers to make the process fun and engaging.

3. Go on-site

Meet at the location. Help participants orient themselves on the map—point out landmarks so they can locate where they are.

4. Activate the senses

Instruct them to walk around and observe the space through five senses

•    Sight: What catches your eye?
•    Smell: Can you smell food? Nature? Something else?
•    Touch: What textures are around you? Are surfaces warm or cold?
•    Taste: Is there a café or kiosk? Can you taste the air?
•    Hearing: What sounds surround you? Birds, people, traffic?

5. Take time to share

Give people time to explore. Then, gather in a circle, compare notes, and discuss: What surprised you? What did you feel connected to? What felt uncomfortable or out of place?

6. Repeat 

To truly understand the space, consider repeating the exercise at different times of day or different days of the week. A sunny afternoon may be filled with children and parents, while the early morning might bring joggers or office workers grabbing fresh air.

More than a game! 

This exercise was part of the MOVE Game project meeting, hosted in Belgrade from May 26–29 by the Association Sport for All Serbia. The meeting focused on planning the implementation of the MOVE Game across four countries.

We shared ideas, experiences, and challenges from different corners of Europe. We discussed developing tools that support local changemakers, such as the upcoming MOVE Game Guide, a collection of adaptable, participatory actions similar to this one.

So here’s your invitation: use this exercise in your next placemaking intervention. Whether you're working with school children, local artists, or city officials, let them map with their senses. Let them rediscover the spaces they thought they already knew. Because sometimes, the most powerful way to change a place is simply to feel it. 

Stay tuned for the MOVE Game Guide and learn more about the project here: movegame.eu

Move Game project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.