Inclusive playgrounds include an outdoor playground and all the nearby areas, like parking and bathrooms. Inclusive playgrounds want all members of the community feel like they belong. Fully inclusive playgrounds are those that are physically, socially, and emotionally welcoming. 

Inclusive playgrounds have four important characteristics:

1. 1. They can be used by everyone (accessible);

2. 2. They meet needs of different people (adaptive);

3. 3. They encourage people to come together to play and learn (welcoming); and

4. 4. They make people feel good when they are there (promote feelings of emotional well-being).

There is a difference between inclusive playgrounds and accessible playgrounds. Accessible playgrounds are designed to meet the minimum standards of the requirements in the law. This means that everyone can access some part of the playground without a challenge. But accessibility does not mean that everyone can use the playground meaningfully. Inclusive playgrounds welcome any individual so they feel like they belong on all parts of the playground. Inclusion goes beyond accessibility because everyone can enjoy all parts of the playground without a challenge.