What would an inclusive, accessible playground even look like? Vote now

Tori_Scope
Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,471 Championing
edited September 2022 in Families and carers

Too many disabled children are being denied fun and friendship at their local playground because it isn’t designed for them. 

Our Let's Play Fair campaign is calling on the Government to invest in a multi-million pound inclusive playgrounds fund that will make play fun, safe and open to all children. 

To help the government understand what inclusive playgrounds should look like, we commissioned three disabled artists to bring disabled children and their families' ideas of dream playgrounds to life. Vote for your favourite on our website!

Family Fun Zone - Fred Campbell

In pen and ink children play across a playground Two children are communicating with fun phones in front of a large play apparatus It has a slide wide enough for a child and parent to slide down together A climbing wall on a diagonal with big chunky green hand-holds It has a ramp up from the ground where at the first level a girl is spinning a big cog on the sides of the apparatusOn the second level connected by a ramp with railings a boy is playing on a standing xylophone Besides the apparatus is a swing set with two children playing on it One is sitting on a standard rectangle-shaped swing seat The other is on a swing seat shaped like a chair with straps to keep the child secure Next to them is a yellow and orange playhouse with a child chilling out with their arms crossed in the window Three children are whizzing around on a ground-level roundabout one of whom uses a wheelchair

Nature's Playspace - Megan Rhiannon

The background of the image is sepia-toned grid paper There is lots of equipment and children and their families playing on it all depicted as line drawings in black and white The playground is green with yellow stars and a dark grey path between the equipment Two children are drawing a smiling sun using chalk on the path Leaves and trees are illustrated across the piece Text labels point to each piece of equipment They say a low-level climbing frame with ramp access playground fun phone a quiet space to take a break accessible roundabout swing for wheelchairs benches with space for everyone stepping stone logs and mushroom stools for sensory seekers

Space-Pirate Playground - Paul Miller

The faces of 6 children and a parent at the bottom of the cartoon image have a collective thought bubble One child is wearing a hearing aid another has headphones on one holds up a white cane and anothers wheelchair handles are popping into the frame In their thought bubble is a vibrant space-pirate-themed playground with a spaceship with an open roof in the centre Inside the spaceship is a tall standing xylophone a different xylophone to sit at a sensory wall that looks like half a planet and a small maze The planets of the solar system are on top of the wall of the exterior of the ship At the front of a ship theres a slide with two people going down together At the back of the spaceship where the engine would be is a ramp On the ground of the playground are flames so it looks like the rocket is taking off In the rest of the playground is a zip-wire with a seat like a chair with a rocket on either side of the seat of the chair Theres a large swing set with a bucket swing that looks like a UFO and a rectangular swing seat next to it Two children one of whom uses a wheelchair are spinning on an accessible ground-level roundabout The roundabout has a roof that looks like the tip of a spaceship Another child bounces on a trampoline that is set into the ground A shooting star is coming out of the trampoline Another two children are playing on an accessible see-saw with sides to grab on top One of the childrens walkers is next to them as they play A half-moon with a tunnel going through it is emerging from the ground A child is standing at the top holding onto the Union Jack flag triumphantly Their parent is taking a picture of them using their phone Another parent is helping their small child climb up Two children are seated on a round court for seated basketball one is about to get the basketball in the net and the other is trying to block them In the background are lots of accessible picnic benches with spaces for wheelchair users to sit

Comments

  • AlexAlvarez
    AlexAlvarez Online Community Member Posts: 11 Listener
    This is a really important question you raised here.
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,471 Championing
    What are your thoughts on it @AlexAlvarez? What do you think are the key features of an accessible playground? 

    Which is your favourite design? :) 
  • AlexAlvarez
    AlexAlvarez Online Community Member Posts: 11 Listener
    I think safety is the first thing we should think of.
  • SueHeath
    SueHeath Online Community Member Posts: 12,388 Championing
    i like the idea of "natures space"
    Wheel chair swings
    Accessible roundabouts
    quiet space 
    low level climbing frame
    love the paths 
    would be nice to have sensory gardens or plants about - some kind of water feature - for sound as well as touch.

    Make the play area secure so parents do not have to fear children trying to run away if they get stressed.
    More space between play areas, some children do not like people in their personal space.
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,471 Championing
    That's definitely an important point @AlexAlvarez :) All playgrounds should be safe for everyone!
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,471 Championing
    Thanks for sharing your thoughts @SueHeath :) I'd agree with you on those points, especially the bits around ensuring that children have space to take a breather and be on their own if needed. Nature spaces and sensory gardens are always good, too!

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