Top Five Inclusive Playground Design Considerations
By Sarah Lisiecki
Communications & Education Manager – BCI Burke
Playgrounds, recreation and outdoor fitness spaces help communities get outside, get moving and develop lasting bonds. There are many factors to consider in inclusive playground design…these are the Top Five from our professional team of playground designers at Park N’ Water!
- Play variety. Different people have different needs and thrive by participating in a variety of play activities. Having a multitude of play opportunities in different categories (sensory, spinning, swinging, etc.) is key to meeting everyone’s needs and preferences. It also provides a well-rounded play experience and hits all developmental areas so children can get the most from their playtime.
- Age groups. Age-appropriate play helps children develop at a level that is comfortable and fun for them while still challenging them to grow. Not only is it important to have different age groups for children, but multigenerational play is also important! ELEVATE® Fitness Course is a great way to engage people of all ages and fitness levels in outdoor fitness and fun! Communities can exercise and compete together in an open space making it that much easier to WANT to move!
- Play equity. Everyone deserves access to play and recreation areas and those areas should provide experiences that are comfortable, developmentally-rich and full of play variety for children of all abilities. This means children can have the same play experience no matter their ability or preferences. Swinging is a great example of this. There are multi-user swings, traditional belt swings, the Freedom Swing designed for a more supportive swinging experience, the Konnection® Swing for a caregiver and child or two children and the Brava® Universal Swing that reimagines swinging for all. Designing a playspace that is inclusive of a variety of swinging options offers everyone equal opportunity to participate and gain the benefits of swinging.
- Barrier-free. Creating a space free from barriers goes beyond access and into inclusive play design. Removing barriers to play means the play space, playground or recreation space must be accessible and usable without restriction for all children, adolescents, adults and older adults. It must also be engaging, fun and provide experiences users want to have. Surfacing, varied levels of play events and a variety of experiences remove barriers to not only getting into the space but really being part of something bigger.
- Focus on the “can.” Changing the conversation to focus on what people can do vs what they can’t shifts the discussion and provides a positive approach to both product and space design. How people can and want to use the space allows us to design spaces that are really for all people of all ages and abilities. That is inclusivity.
Contact Park N’ Water to design your next dream playspace. Park N’ Water is part of the LAS Canoe Procurement Group.
About Park N’ Water
At Park N Water, we believe that play is intrinsic to the healthy development of all children. Our vision is to create social, creative, and imaginative play opportunity for individuals of all ages and all abilities. Through thoughtful design, collaboration, and a willingness to listen our team will provide the best opportunities for play while excelling in both “Pre” and “Post” sales service. Whether you need a new play environment for your community, school, or facility we are here to help. Service can include but is not limited to design detail and construction of your new play space.