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Inclusive Playground Design

Meeting ADA standards is important and necessary when designing a playspace. But to have an environment that is truly inclusive, we need more. Developed to ensure that products and spaces can be used comfortably by all people, regardless of ability or preference, universal design goes above access and promotes the creation of equitable environments. By applying these principals to playspaces, parks, outdoor exercise areas or any public spaces, we plan around peoples’ diverse needs and abilities.
 

Browse our Inclusive Playground Designs

 

 

Inclusive Playground Design

Secure

Minimizing hazards helps make play more fun and safer for everyone. Meeting applicable safety standards for products and surfacing is one way we can work to minimize the likelihood of hazards within the playspace.

 

 

 

Inclusive Playground Design

Perceptible

Communicating important information in a way everyone can understand helps users feel secure and that the environment is designed for them. For users with visual differences, placing yellow boundaries around the play areas helps them to distinguish the various play opportunities and move more freely throughout the space. Coloring an area of caution completely yellow, for example, a space for swinging, helps people to avoid injury in a way that is understood by all users.

Inclusive Playground Design

Approach

Having the space you need to move, turn, reach and maneuver is part of being in an environment you are comfortable in. A place where you can show up as yourself and feel as though it was designed with you in mind. Double-wide ramps provide enough space for two wheelchairs to move next to each other or pass one another and offer a way to allow everyone to get into the heart of the play action with enough room for comfort and maneuvering.

Inclusive Playground Design

Intuitive

Not everyone possesses the same language skills, concentration levels or experiences. Simple signage that is easy for all people to interpret is one way to ensure everyone understands important messages being communicated. This may mean using words, symbols and multiple languages to share instructions and rules or open-ended imaginative games that allow users to interpret the game however they wish.


Inclusive Playground Design

Ease

Accessing and moving throughout the play environment should still leave more than enough energy for users to participate in play. Providing surfacing that allows everyone to move comfortably throughout the space is critical to universal design and important for the development of the children, families and community members that come to the park, playground or outdoor recreation area to engage, learn and grow.

Inclusive Playground Design

Equitable

Play equity is an important way to make certain everyone gets the most from their play experience. Having access to the play environment is the first step but certainly not the last. To create a truly equitable environment, accessing the space and having play events that challenge users while meeting them where they are in their development is key.