Playgrounds, recreation and outdoor fitness spaces help communities get outside, get moving and develop skills, relationships, resilience, and a sense of adventure and community, that transcend the playspace. With more than 100 years in the industry, we get a lot of different questions about inclusion – everything from what it means, why it’s important and things to consider. As a resource to you, our customers, we thought we’d take a minute to answer some of the most FAQs.
Why is inclusion important in outdoor spaces?
At the base level, it’s the law. ADA requirements state that access to public recreation is a civil right. It’s also important because we know that play is a catalyst for learning, growing, developing and engaging in the community. Creating spaces that bring everyone together requires considering who the “everyone” is and approaching design listening to the voices, needs and preferences of all people. According to the CDC, ten percent of children ages 6-14 and 13 percent of adults have differing abilities. Having spaces that accommodate the entire community will create an equitable outdoor experience for everyone.
What should we consider as we design inclusive spaces?
1. Parallel pathways for play. How children get around the space is hugely important and access to the most exciting elements is a must for inclusion. Having pathways that allow people of different ages and abilities to play and learn alongside each other and create their own play experiences in and around the play environment is part of fostering understanding and plays a role in decreasing attitudinal barriers people with differing abilities often face.
2. Play variety. Variety is the spice of play and having different types of play experiences is crucial to inclusion. Variety means everyone can create an experience that meets their needs, abilities and preferences AND that no one is stigmatized into only certain types of play. For example, children who don’t transfer from mobility devices should be able to, in an inclusive space, participate in creative play, musical play, sensory play, swinging, spinning and have comfortable places to socialize and rest. Caregivers should be able to engage comfortably with the children and participate in intergenerational play. Novo® Playful Furniture provides a comfortable sitting space while also being part of the play experience as a climber. Novo can be used within the playspace to increase intergenerational engagement and offer an event that serves more than one purpose.
3. Play equity. Similar play experiences for all children, representation of different cultures, races and abilities, access to different types of play, spaces that foster comfort, learning, socialization and development are all contributors to play equity. Providing all children access to the most used and exciting aspects of play is an important part of equity and, as an example, the “Circle of Play” – defined as climbing up and sliding down and then doing it again and again – is the most common way we see children playing on a playground structure. Creating a space where there is a transfer option for children using mobility devices, and can transfer independently, allows participation in the full play experience. The 360 Loop™ brings the “Circle of Play” to more children than ever before and offers an independent play experience for children who may not have that this opportunity in the past. Other examples include teaching history through custom play experiences like at Douglass Community Center in Leesburg VA or having multiple ways to swing and spin and providing different climbing opportunities for children of different ages and developmental stages.
Anything else that stands out for people designing inclusive outdoor spaces?
Yes, two things that come up again and again. The first is the importance of considering not just abilities but also preferences. Considering preferences is the next level of inclusion and digs deeper into the needs of the people using the space. Play variety and different ways to have a similar experience help everyone find something they prefer to do that day. The second thing is really considering all types of differing abilities – even ones that might not be visible. Sensory processing, vision, developmental and even mental health are all things to consider when creating a space that is truly one for the entire community.
View some of our favorite playspaces and contact your local Burke Representative for more information on designing your community space.