Inclusive play area design

"Inclusive and accessible play are 2 different things"

inclusive playground design uses differing accessibility options

The best public playgrounds are those where people of all ages are welcomed.

Considerable amounts of public money are spent on upgrading play provision for children. This needs to be balanced by an holistic view of the needs of the whole community.

Allowing the elderly and the office worker to sit and watch children play, chat with young parents and be a part of their community is an important benefit of inclusive playground design.

'' Inclusive design is not just about providing access for disabled and non disabled, it is about making everyone welcome," says Gayle Souter-Brown .

'Community playgrounds' are common in Europe. To combat obesity and other socially-isolated or inactive lifestyle -induced conditions , sustainable playgrounds must cater for the whole community.

Natural play and natural playground design uses natural materials. Boules courts are cheap to install, and inexpensive to maintain. 'Beach' volleyball courts can multi task as sand pits for younger children when not in use by teens and 20'somethings. Inclusive playground design means that everyone benefits, thereby promoting a sustainable community.

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"Young people are often ignored when parks are created, with the belief that a small, fenced off play area will be sufficient to keep them amused and a fear that encouraging activities such as skating and cycling will attract anti-social behaviour. In contrast, many of the European cities I visited put the needs of young people at the centre of public spaces. In Stockholm children are allowed to have barbecues and build their own play huts and in Holland homezones allow children to play in almost every street".-Sam Parry Parks officer, Bristol City Council (previously working for Oxford City Council).

Sam travelled across Europe to Germany, Holland, Denmark and Sweden to gain a better understanding of how parks and open spaces can be designed with young people in mind.

Play ground design

Inclusive play area design

"Inclusive and accessible play are 2 different things"