The Five Fundamental Strategies for Designing a Playground for All

Mara Kaplan • March 18, 2019

Inclusive Playgrounds are Playgrounds for All

The Five Fundamental Strategies for Designing a Playground for All

Are you adding a new playground to your community? Are families excited to see what the new playground will look like? How about families raising children with disabilities? Have you included them in the discussion? Families raising children with disabilities see the new playground as an opportunity to be a part of the community instead of apart from the community. With more than 400,000 children who have disabilities in Texas, parks and recreation administrators will also welcome the opportunity for inclusion.

Inclusive playgrounds are Playgrounds for All. They are accessible, multi-sensory, and social environments designed to challenge children with physical and neurological disabilities as well as children who are neuro-typical. Playgrounds for All ensure that everyone has choices when it comes to where they want to play. Using strategies to eliminate surprises and provide places to decompress help children with autism enjoy the community asset.


1. Playgrounds for All are Accessible

Since 2012, all new and renovated playgrounds must meet regulations laid out in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA is the least you can do according to the law. Accessible playgrounds enable people using mobility devices to get to, through and around the playground.

The biggest decision that you will need to make about accessibility is what type of safety surfacing will you purchase? While Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) meets the ADA criteria, there are significant problems with this choice. Maintaining EWF surfacing so that it continues to meet ADA regulations requires regular raking and refilling. If you choose EWF, make sure you have a written maintenance plan and follow it; otherwise you open yourself up to lawsuits. The real problem is that even though EWF meets the ADA in the lab, it is rare that a person using a mobility device such as a wheelchair or walker can maneuver through the space — their devices get stuck in the mulch.

Playgrounds for All go far beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act regulations by providing wide routes, flush transitions, and unitary surfacing. The travel routes around and through the playground and surrounding areas are wide enough for people and wheelchairs to pass, transfer onto and off of equipment, and get close to activities. Protective surfacing (such as rubber tiles, mats, turf, or a combination of energy-absorbing materials) forms a unitary shock-absorbing surface. This type of surfacing makes it easier for wheelchairs and strollers to enter and navigate in the playspace.


2. Playgrounds for All are Multi-Sensory

Children use their seven sensory systems to explore and try to learn about the environment around them. Sensory play is crucial to brain development. When children use their sensory systems, it helps build nerve connections in the brain’s pathways. As more connections are made, children are more able to complete complex learning tasks. This brain development supports cognitive growth, language development, gross motor skills, social interaction and problem-solving skills.

All children benefit from a multi-sensory environment. Children who are developmentally delayed often need even more exposure to sensory input.

A playground is a perfect place for children to use all of their sensory systems — make sure you deliberately select the equipment and the plantings to meet this goal. Here are some suggestions to engage each sensory system except for taste:

Auditory System (hearing): Musical instruments, talk tubes

Olfactory System (smelling): Plantings with a variety of different smells

Proprioceptive System (body awareness): Climbers, things to jump from, monkey bars

Tactile System (touch): Planting with different textures, equipment with different textures such a play panels or rocks

Vestibular System (movement and balance): Spinners, swings, gliders, spring rockers

Visual System: Equipment that can be looked through, such as telescopes or colored play panels


3. Playgrounds for All are social environments

The playground is an important place for kids to develop their social and cooperative skills. On the playground, children learn to play and interact with each other as they communicate, share and take turns. Playgrounds create platforms for children’s imaginations with shapes, colors, structures and activities that challenge their creativity and encourage pretend play. Include a wide variety of cooperative and imaginary play experiences that create a welcoming and social environment for children. Group spinners and swings are excellent cooperative play equipment and make a great addition to an inclusive playground.



4. Playgrounds for All encourage all children to play

Inclusive playgrounds are places where all children in your community can play. If the playground is only a low ramped structure, children who have strong gross motor-planning skills may easily be bored. On the other hand, if the playground is only a large structure with difficult climbing activities, children with disabilities make not be able to engage in the play.


The solution is to provide graduated levels of challenge to ensure that all ages and abilities are actively engaged on the playground. Placing those different challenge levels close to one another invites engagement between children of different abilities.


Every child is not going to be able to or choose to play on every piece of equipment. But it is important that every child has a choice in how they want to play. If all that is done to a playground to welcome children who use wheelchairs is to add an accessible swing seat, then all that child can do is swing. He or she has no other options. Well-designed Playgrounds for All provide at least three play choices for children who need postural support and/or use a wheelchair.


Accessible gliders, inclusive whirls, accessible zip lines, bird-nest swings, group spinners designed with postural support, and ground-based play like musical instruments are all excellent choices for children who need postural support. The great thing about these options is that they often attract children of varying ages and abilities, creating spaces on the playground where everyone is playing together.



5. Playgrounds for All ensure children do not get overwhelmed


For some children, including many with autism and sensory processing disorder, a playground can overload their sensory systems. There are simple strategies that you can implement to help prevent this overload or to help a child regroup.


Install a sidewalk that encircles your playground. The sidewalk becomes an orientation path for children. They can walk around the entire playground and determine the best place for them to play today. Some days, being in the most active areas of the playground is fine, but other days, some children may need to move to a quieter location. The orientation path allows them to figure out the dynamics of the playground before engaging. It also provides a “safe space” to return to when the play becomes overwhelming.


Another good strategy is to create a quiet, cozy space away from the major action for a child to go when they become overwhelmed. The space should be in the quietest place on the playground. The child will want to feel like they are in a small enclosed area, but enabling a parent to keep an eye on the child is important. Having extra tactile experiences in the area can help reduce anxiety. The space can be created with landscaping or by combining a variety of play panels.


After surfacing, the most requested element from parents raising children with disabilities is fencing. The Interactive Autism Network Research Report states that roughly half of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) attempt to elope (run away) from a safe environment, a rate nearly four times higher than their unaffected siblings. When children elope, two in three parents reported their missing children had a “close call” with a traffic injury. About 62% of families of children who elope were prevented from attending/enjoying activities outside the home due to fear of wandering. By adding a fence to your playground, you help reduce the anxiety parents feel about being outside.


Conclusion

it is possible to improve the inclusivity of every playground with conscious design-making and good layout, regardless of budget. Following are some good places to start making your playgrounds more inclusive:

·Recruit parents of children with disabilities from your community to help set priorities.

·Work with your playground representative to ensure that your accessible routes are even wider than 60” — 72” allows two wheelchairs to pass one other.

·Work with all of the installers to ensure that the surfacing is flush and no one will get hurt as they move from surface to surface. There should be no more than ¼” difference between surfacing.

·Commit to one ground-based cooperative play activity designed for someone using a wheelchair such as a group swing, group spinning, or an accessible glider or whirl.

·Add an orientation path and a cozy space.

By designing sensory environments that are accessible and challenging for all, you create a community asset that will be loved by all the children in your community.



Mara Kaplan is an Inclusive Play Design Specialist and owner of Let Kids Play, an inclusive consulting firm. She has 25 years of experience in designing welcoming and inclusive play spaces.

Outdoor Hand Sanitizer Stations

By Kris Allen • July 16, 2020
NEW! Hand Sanitizer Stations for Playgrounds and Recreation Areas

Preparing to Open Playgrounds

By Webuildfun, Inc • April 28, 2020
Instructions on how to disinfect Miracle Recreation playground equipment.

Advantages of Installing Shade Structures in Outdoor Areas

By Kris Allen • May 8, 2018
Shade structures provide valuable shelter for any outdoor area – playgrounds, parks, stadiums, parking lots, sports courts and fields, school courtyards and more. They are an easy thing to be cut from the budget because they are not thought to be a necessity, but this is a mistake! The benefits of adding a shade structure to your outdoor area far outweigh the cost. Here are 4 ways that shade structures can benefit any outdoor area: Harmful UV Ray Protection – Everyone today knows the damage that UV rays inflict on our skin. The more we can reduce exposure to harmful UV rays, the better. Shade structures help protect people from these harmful rays by drastically lowering the amount of exposure for anyone underneath. Weather Protection – Shade structures are great protection against the elements. At larger venues, it could be the deciding factor on whether a show or game gets cancelled due to inclement weather. At pools, playgrounds and parks, it protects guests from getting caught in bad weather. They can be used by commercial businesses to protect merchandise, by schools and churches to protect outdoor meeting areas, at residential homes to protect patios and swimming pools, at playgrounds to protect the children playing, and more. Equipment Protection – Just as they protect people from harmful UV rays and weather, they also protect the equipment underneath them from the elements. Shade structures create a barrier from the beating sun, rain, snow, sleet and hail – all of which will run down exposed equipment in time. Installing a shade structure will make any equipment underneath it last longer. Cool & Comfortable – Standing in the shade is cooler than standing in direct sunlight, especially when the structure creating the shade is made of breathable fabric that allows air to pass through. Just like people, equipment and seating areas will be cooler and more comfortable when under a shade structure. Have you ever tried to sit on a metal bench that’s been heating up under the sun all day? Or maybe your child has complained of sliding down a slide that’s too hot? With their cooling abilities, shade structures are an easy addition to any outdoor area to increase guest comfort. If you’re interested in adding a shade structure to your outdoor area, contact us today for a free consultation, or visit our website . We look forward to talking with you!

The Importance of Inclusive Play for All Children

By Kris Allen • May 8, 2018
All kids enjoying playing; whether it’s being creative and imaginative, or silly and rambunctious, the urge to play is natural. Adults enjoy “play” too, just in a different form; think happy hour, vacation, golf, girl’s night out, etc. Even animals – baby and adult – enjoy playing. Don’t you think something that’s such an instinctive behavior in both children and adults, human and animal, must hold some sort of inherent purpose in our lives? Why is Play Important? The basic most obvious reason that play is important is because it makes us happy. Our level of contentedness with life plays a big role in our overall mental and physical health. If life is all work and no play, it can lead to depression, high levels of stress, ongoing tension and exhaustion; all of these things have been directly linked to increased health issues. In this sense, play improves our quality of life – it creates positive emotions, relieves stress and lightens the burden of everyday life – for both children and adults. Another big reason play is important is that it contributes to children’s mental and physical development – especially during early childhood. Play is the core basis of how kids come to learn and understand the world around them. Play helps shape a child’s development by stimulating the neurological connections within the brain. Development of motor skills (fine and gross), creativity/imagination, awareness of self and others, language skills, social/emotional skills, self-esteem, problem-solving, muscle development, and ability to learn are all influenced by a child’s play. In short, play supplies the brain with what it needs for learning later in life, maximizing the child’s chance of being a happy and healthy member of society. What is Inclusive Play and Why is it Important? Children with special needs do not often have the same opportunities as other children to engage in physical play at the playground. More often than not, they have obstacles that prevent them from being able to participate. Inclusive play allows children with different needs the opportunity to play side-by-side on the same playground. Inclusive play is beneficial for all children. It allows the opportunity for children with special needs to experience the positive impact that play has on their development and overall well-being. It allows typically developing children to view the world through a different, more diverse lens. Kids with a diverse range of abilities playing together in the same space will develop a sense of equality and togetherness they will never experience if they remain separated in play. It allows them all to interact with one another, exposing their differences, but highlighting their similarities at the same time, helping them to develop an awareness, respect and understanding of people with all abilities. However, the number one reason that inclusive play is important is that it allows children to have access to the play time that can help them develop into happy and healthy, functioning adults. To learn more about inclusive play, or for information on building an inclusive playground, contact us today for a free consultation . We would love to help you bring your inclusive playground ideas to life!

Extreme Fun at Joanne Land Playground in Round Rock

By Kris Allen • May 8, 2018
webuildfun was thrilled to partner with the city of Round Rock to bring the latest in playground design and innovation to Joanne Land Playground at Old Settlers Park. This "Extreme Generation" (or "XGen" for short) design at brings together the latest in equipment and technology. This XGen playground includes Miracle’s new Gravity Rail as well as climbing towers, slides, tunnels, obstacles and more for a thrilling and interactive experience. The park is equipped with Biba Technology , which includes a suite of augmented-reality, imagination-driven playground games for parents to play with their children aged 3 to 9. We love the X-Gen concept because it brings kids, families and neighbors together to experience something unique. It encourages physical activity and social interaction, and builds self-confidence. Kids can take perceived risks, but in a safe environment. Here's a cool video from local news station KVUE . And one from City of Round Rock that highlights the park . If you're interested in learning more about X-Gen designs or for a free consultation contact us today.

10 Benefits of Nature Play

By Kris Allen • May 8, 2018
What is Nature Play? The concept of nature play involves incorporating the surrounding landscape into an outdoor play area. It combines nature and safety, enhancing the play experience for all. Nature playgrounds have become increasingly common in recent years, popping up in neighborhoods, city parks, schools and other places such as zoos across the U.S. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but they provide a safe and fun opportunity for children to enjoy nature and spend time outdoors. Examples of Nature Play Nature playgrounds come in all shapes and sizes, using boulders, trees, logs, streams and other natural elements to create interactive play areas. Nature playgrounds provide multiple benefits for children and families benefits including: Physical Exercise – Playing on nature playgrounds keeps kids active, promoting physical activity and overall fitness health. Improved Cognitive Development – Spending time in nature improves awareness, reasoning and observational skills in children. Safety – Nature playgrounds are designed with children’s safety in mind. Visitors get the benefits of exploring nature without the worry of loose rocks, broken tree limbs or other hazards. Low Maintenance – Nature playgrounds are easy to take care of, with little maintenance required. Multi-sensory Experience – Incorporating nature into playgrounds enhances the mutli-sensory experience by encouraging all types of play. Increased Focus/Attention – Studies show that spending time in nature can increase focus and reduce ADHD in children. Extended Play Time – When play areas are combined with nature, children tend to play longer, increasing the impact of the physical and mental benefits. Encourages Imagination – When children spend time in nature it encourages them to be creative and use their imagination. Nature is especially important for developing creative thinking and problem solving skills. Stimulate Social Interaction – Children tend to interact and engage more when playing in nature. An inclusive playground where children of all abilities can interact benefits the entire community. Reduces Stress – Multiple studies prove that spending time in nature can greatly reduce stress levels. This is important with all the pressure on kids today, from standardized tests to extra-curricular activities. To learn more about nature play, or if you are interested in building a nature playground contact us today for a free consultation . We look forward to talking with you!

The City of Bedford Gets Colorful

By Kris Allen • May 8, 2018
Earlier this year, Miracle Recreation and webuildfun, inc. had the pleasure of teaming up with the City of Bedford on two really great projects. The City of Bedford has a strong commitment to its citizens, and for this reason it makes a point to update parks and equipment on an ongoing basis. This year, the city wanted to update the playgrounds at Harris Ryals Park and Stormie Jones Park, with an emphasis on accessibility. Three different playground companies were invited to submit bids to the parks department and parks board. Once the parks board members looked at the three companies’ designs side-by-side, they decided to go with Miracle designs for both parks. What set Miracle apart from the competition was not only design, but color creativity, superior quality of renderings, and responsiveness to specific requests. For both parks, the city wanted a design and a color scheme that would be completely unique, yet still different from each other. One of the most liked and commented-on aspects of both park project updates are the fun and fresh colors. Don Henderson, the Parks Superintendent for the City of Bedford, stated, “I couldn’t be happier with the playgrounds … Miracle was a pleasure to work with.” webuildfun is a proud partner and supplier of Miracle Recreation products in North and Central Texas, where we’ve been supplying and installing commercial playground equipment for over 20 years. We are here to assist you throughout every step of the process, including project concepts and design, customized installation needs, fundraising and financing options, construction, maintenance and demolition. Visit our website to see our recent projects, or contact us to schedule a playground consultation today. We would love to discuss your ideas and help you bring a little color to your next park and playground project!

Upgrading Playground Equipment

By Kris Allen • May 8, 2018
Building a brand-new playground takes a lot of time and money; unfortunately, more often than not, it’s time and money that schools, churches, neighborhoods and communities don’t have. There are several ways to get funding to build a new playground – donations, fundraisers, grants, etc. – but before you commit all that time and effort, make sure a new playground is what you really need. Playgrounds get a lot of usage and tend to get weathered down pretty quickly – this doesn’t mean a playground needs to be replaced when it starts to show signs of aging. More often than not, updating a few worn elements of the playground will restore it to “like-new” status and you can save the fundraising and grant writing for when you really need it! Here are some great ways to revamp an aging playground: Add Shade Protection. Not only do fabric shade structures protect the playing children from harmful UV rays and random bouts of weather, but it also keeps the equipment cool. If you have ever been to a playground in the afternoon/evening, after it’s been sitting in the full sun all day long, you know what kind of value a shade structure brings to the table. Upgrade Surfacing. The most common kind of surfacing seen on playgrounds is loose fill of some kind - engineered wood fiber (wood mulch) or rubber mulch. Upgrading from loose fill to a smooth, unitary synthetic safety surface is something we highly recommend. Unitary safety surfacing is easier for all kids to maneuver, especially those who are in a wheelchair or other mobility aids. Add a Modern Element. Kids today are all about technology. Smart play involves a mobile game system that blends the digital play that kids love today with the active outdoor play and joyful imagination that they need to aid proper development. Biba , a leader in smart-play technology, has created a collection of smart-play apps for parents to play with their kids on smart playgrounds; just download the free app and begin playing! Add Inclusive Elements. You should strongly consider making the playground elements you update inclusive. Every child deserves a safe, interactive and enjoyable play environment; and for this reason, inclusive playgrounds are becoming more and more popular. Having a playground that is accessible and has options for children with disabilities as well as typical children is the best way to ensure your playground is up-to-date. Anything that is broken should be replaced, obviously, but also take into account the play patterns of the kids using the playground. What equipment is popular? What is least popular? What time of day is busiest for your playground? Are there children with disabilities who visit and are unable to fully participate? Watching the play patterns of kids at your playground will help you get the most bang for your buck when deciding what to update. To learn more about inclusive play, or for information on playground equipment, contact us today for a free consultation . We would love to help you bring your park and playground ideas to life!

Are Outdoor Musical Instruments a Good Addition to Playgrounds?

By Kris Allen • May 8, 2018
Everyone loves music. Music can be therapeutic. It can relieve stress, enhance memory, express feelings, and help with communication. Music, when combined with recess, can become an important part of children’s development and learning processes. Unstructured play on the playground is an integral part of every child’s social, physical and cognitive development. Music has also been proven to positively affect a child’s development. If you join the two, it’s a winning combination. Here are 5 great reasons to add musical instruments to your playground: Cognitive Function: Music is beneficial to cognitive development and reasoning skills. It enhances memory, teaches persistence, and helps with organizational skills and time management. Emotional Effect: Most kids love music — and making noise — so the ability to play their own instruments is FUN for them! Music can help nurture their creativity, confidence levels and self-expression. Music is also healing; it has been shown to help reduce stress, anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as boost your mood. Music makes us happier! Physical Impact: Music has also been shown to affect us physically. Both listening to and playing music can enhance physical endurance, make you sleep better and improve blood-vessel function. These physical benefits can only have a positive impact on today's youth. Social Interaction: Playing instruments together makes children focus and work together, boosting their social engagement. It helps kids to practice their listening skills and assists them in learning how to work together and develop a sense of community. Inclusive Play: Adding musical instruments to your playground is an easy way to bring an inclusive element to an otherwise non-inclusive playground. Musical instruments are inclusive because they are designed to be played from all different heights and angles so that all kids can play them, including kids with mobility devices of any kind. The power and joy of music is undeniable. Combining it with the benefits of recess can give kids a positive developmental boost, helping them to be healthier and happier all around! If you would like more information on outdoor muscial instruments, please contact us to speak with a representative today.

Remodel Your Playground without Breaking the Bank

By Kris Allen • May 4, 2018
Playgrounds get a lot of use. That’s a good thing, although it does take a toll on the playground equipment. Eventually, all playgrounds need some refreshing in order to keep their appeal. Updating your playground does not have to take a lot of time or money.