Safety
Groups have to be sure to promote safety and inclusion,
Inclusive playgrounds emphasize the importance of safety for everyone.
Safety includes bodies and feelings. Inclusive playgrounds are designed so that people with and without disabilities feel comfortable and stay healthy while playing.
Does your playground support safety and inclusion?
While everyone wants to have playgrounds that are safe, sometimes recommendations for safety do not meet the standard for inclusion. Groups have to be sure to promote safety and inclusion. For example, all of the playground equipment should be fully accessible and usable by all people. If the coolest thing is not accessible to someone with disabilities, then the park isn’t fun for everyone. That means the playground is not a safe place for them emotionally.
Or, think about how play areas should be designed so parents and caregivers can easily observe children at play. For some families, this means the playground should be accessible for parents with disabilities. For other families, this means the playground is fully enclosed so they can know their child will not run away when they are not looking. Your group should ask families in your community what kind of supervision is needed so families can be safe at your playground.
The National Recreation and Park Association has a Playground Safety Checklist with 12 different things to look for. We share some of them below. You can read the whole Playground Safety Checklist by clicking here. We also explain how they relate to inclusive playgrounds.
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The ground surface around the playground should be a balance between soft and firm. For example, if someone falls, they shouldn’t get hurt because the ground is soft enough to be comfortable when they fall. But the ground also needs to be firm enough for people in wheelchairs or other mobility devices to move around safely.
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All of the playground equipment should be fully accessible and usable by all people. If the coolest thing isn’t accessible to someone with disabilities, then the park isn’t fun for everyone. That means the playground is not a safe place for them emotionally.
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Play areas should be designed so parents and caregivers can easily observe children at play. For some families, this means the playground should be accessible for parents with disabilities. For other families, this means the playground is fully enclosed so they can know their child will not run away when they are not looking.
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Playgrounds should get rid of any potential sources of injury for users. This means no sharp edges or parts of the playground where someone’s head or arms could get stuck. On an inclusive playground, that also means making sure that the structures are safe and accessible for all users, regardless of mobility.
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In order to make an inclusive playground fully safe, the playground must undergo routine maintenance. This means checking all equipment for broken, missing, or loose pieces. It also means checking the playground surfacing to make sure it is in good condition and can be used by everyone. The playground should be regularly inspected by a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI).
