The right to play: creating accessible playgrounds for all children

If you are reading this blog, you are probably already aware that achieving a truly accessible society means that every built environment is important to achieving inclusion, and very likely aware that access to play is a key foundation in the development of children.

Play improves the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and young people. Through play, children learn about the world and themselves. They also learn skills they need for study, work, and relationships such as confidence. 

Public play areas offer a space to develop many of these key aspects in the development of children; allowing for social interaction with peers, exploring the use of their senses, enjoying exercise, and even as a platform to experience some of the more negative aspects of life (getting hurt by accident, pushing their body by “overdoing it”, and tiring themselves out). For these reasons, creating accessible playgrounds that children of all backgrounds and abilities can access is important, encouraging their development as well as normalizing interactions with non-disabled children, who might otherwise be ignorant of the differences of peers with disabilities 

Creating an accessible playground does not have to be a challenge, or even require that much variation to what a traditional play area might look like. Accessibility can be achieved at a lower cost by developing simple alternative design choices at the planning stage.

There are many facets to this which can vary depending on the amenities available on the playground. When Direct Access delivers an accessibility audit of a typical playground that has already been built, some key causes for concern frequently recur that should be addressed by any site owner looking to create a new outdoor playground or play area.

Since most playgrounds are cornered off by fencing, it is crucial that points of entry not only allow enough maneuvering space for wheelchair users but that the gates are not too heavy to open for someone with low strength. The material that the door is made of must also be made of an exposed metal that is cold to touch, and therefore accessible to people with sensitivity to colder temperatures. Additionally, the terrain approaching the park must be regularly maintained to avoid trips along the pathways. If there is a car park, ensuring there is a compliant accessible parking bay available for disabled visitors is also highly important.

As you can gather, before we have even reached the entrance; there is already so much for a site owner to consider when it comes to access, but once more, many of these retroactive changes can be avoided if they are implemented to begin with.

Now, let’s briefly consider some aspects we normally recommend within the playground, starting with the terrain. We often find when delivering audits that most playground surfacing is either tarmac or made of engineered wood fiber (EWF). What many people do not know is that the latter is inaccessible to wheelchairs, and can make movement for anyone with mobility issues challenging, particularly in wet weather conditions. Therefore, we typically recommend PIS (Poured-in Surface) rubber safety surfacing is implemented as a best practice measure.

In terms of the attractions and play components themselves, considering how children with different abilities might experience them is crucial. For swing sets, a standard at most playgrounds, ensuring the availability of a wheelchair swing is one inclusive measure that ensures mobility-impaired children can enjoy playing.

For children with visual impairments, including step nosings for any play structures that require ascending or descending staircases reduces the risk of injury and shows that site owners are mindful of the needs of people with visual impairments even though including step nosings for structures is not a legal precedent. 

Furthermore, installing carousels with enough space for wheelchairs users to use further demonstrates a playground’s commitment to inclusion and encourages play between disabled and non-disabled children. In addition, many other wheelchair-accessible structures are also available, such as wheelchair floor trampolines.

For neurodiverse children, installing communication boards would allow autistic, non-verbal, and children with speech difficulties to learn different emotions, express themselves, and explain how they feel to adults while at a playground thanks to their typical use of pictorial, non-written information.

The incorporation of interactive play panels with games that are suitable for children of all different ages, abilities, and key stages of learning is another key element to include. Ensuring that these panels offer appropriate color contrast and that any movable elements such as switches are not heavy is another simple aspect to consider that can make a huge difference in the experience of playgrounds for both less physically-able and neurodiverse children.

Many other aspects are important to consider when creating accessible playgrounds, particularly as accessibility is an evolving issue with innovations in accessibility within play and entertainment being developed all the time. To keep up with best practice recommendations, site owners should involve accessibility consultants within the architectural and planning process and allow auditors to undertake accessibility audits of sites every three years.

Direct Access can provide these services, click here to learn more!