Accessible parks – For inclusivity in children

Parks – Inclusivity and Accessibility

In the hustle bustle of cities, where there is a rush to work, to home and to do everything parks at times do provide a welcome relief to enjoy greenery, to play slides for kids, to savour the nature. As a matter of fact, the count of parks in India is not much, and to think that these are not accessible is indeed a thing to ponder upon.

Why are parks important for:

Parks help in
• Brain development, physical development, and health
• Building social, emotional and life skills
• Helping to develop an awareness of risk
• Encouraging children to experiment, generate ideas, practice skills, role play, invent
• Allowing an opportunity for children with disabilities to interact with their peers
• Offering opportunities for choice and decision making

What is an accessible park

Parks and playgrounds can be designed considering principles of Universal Design and Inclusive Play so that children of all ranges of physical and sensory ability, and their care givers of all ages and abilities, can play together in a shared environment. Parks and Playgrounds when accessible can greatly help to foster relationships between kids with and without disabilities thus paving the way for an inclusive society.

How to make parks accessible

  • Provide accessible pathway to the play area
  • Arrange depressed curbs to access the play area
  • Make sure the ground surfaces are spongy and flat, leveled floors without steep ramps are provided
  • Ground-level play components should be provided in park
  • Ensure park benches have arms, and also provide space beside it for a wheelchair
  • Arrange a transfer-station to facilitate access to the play structure when necessary
  • Separated area for junior (2 to 5 years) and senior (5 to 12 years) play equipment and additional swing area
  • Universally accessible swings will allow unimpeded access to the swings.Provide at least one universally accessible swing

In this figure we observe two accessible swings for wheelchair users in a park.

source: https://in.pinterest.com/inklusio/barrierefreier-spielplatz/?lp=true

Play Areas Separated by Age:

A play area designed for 2 to 5 year-olds is considered separate from one for 5 to 12 year-olds. Therefore reduce the risk of injury.

In this figure we observe play area classified into different age group children’s and installed play components for different age group children’s.

source: https://www.access-board.gov/attachments/article/1369/play-guide.pdf

Ground-Level Play Components:

Ground-level play components are items that can be approached and exited at ground level. At least one of each type of play component provided at ground level in a play area must be on an accessible route.

In this figure we observe a wheelchair user children playing with ground level play component

source: https://www.access-board.gov/attachments/article/1369/play-guide.pdf

Accessible Routes:

An accessible route is a pathway specifically designed to provide access for individuals with disabilities, including those using wheelchairs or mobility devices.

In this figure we observe accessible routes access to the play structure.

source: http://saf-playservices.com/accessible-pathways/4396573

There are two types of accessible routes:

  1. Ground-level
  2. Elevated

1. Ground-Level Accessible Routes:

A ground-level accessible route connects play components at ground level.

In this figure we observe one wheelchair use children on ground level accessible route and some are playing with ground level play components.

source: https://www.access-board.gov/attachments/article/1369/play-guide.pdf

2. Elevated Accessible Routes:

An elevated accessible route is a path used for connecting elevated play components. Elevated accessible routes must connect the entry and exit points of at least 50 percent of the elevated play components provided in the play area

In this figure we observe one person help to wheelchair use children for access to elevated accessible route.

source: https://www.access-board.gov/attachments/article/1369/play-guide.pdf

Surfacing Materials:

Surfacing is a key component in designing safe and accessible play spaces. Many existing play spaces have been built with non-accessible surfacing materials including pea gravel and sand. Accessible options include pour in place rubber surfacing, rubber tile, engineered wood fiber, engineered carpet and crushed rubber products. Sand is not an accessible fall surface, but in combination with other surfacings (e.g. pour in place rubber) can provide an important play element for all children. Other materials such as asphalt paths combined with engineered wood fiber can improve access to equipment.