INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUNDS ARE FOR ALL

On any given day, you can see kids playing in the new, inclusive playgrounds that have been built in Pullman, Washington and Moscow, Idaho. It contains all the typical play equipment – swings, slides, climbing structures and forts. Bright and colorful, it offers kids a place to spin and bounce.

But in reality, it’s much more. Ramps allow wheelchairs and walkers to climb into the structures. Special swings alongside standard swings allow everyone to play.

We want this to be the norm, instead of just adding a few inclusive components to existing playgrounds. The fully inclusive playgrounds are welcoming and accessible. Additional safety measures, like the softer, resilient rubber surfaces that make it easy to maneuver on, are things enjoyed by all families.

What’s most important is that these are available in all neighborhood parks, and not just in one park in a community.

To be universally accessible, a play area must have 70% of the play features accessible. This is more than is required under the ADA. An accessible play area is more than just having apparatus that kids of all abilities can use, it’s also about making the play area accessible to parents and grandparents with disabilities.

Funding is a challenge, but all communities should be moving forward with creating spaces for many types of abilities.Fun should be shared by all.

Dana Gover, MPA, and ACTCP Certification, ADA Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator 

For more information about ADA Technical Assistance visit the NW ADA Center Idaho website: nwadacenter.org/idaho

Email:dananwadacenteridaho@gmail.com
Phone: Voice and Text 208-841-9422
Idaho Relay Service: 7