Community and commercial playgrounds are designed and built to last for years and years of enjoyment, but all playgrounds must be assessed annually for equipment that needs to be upgraded or replaced.
“Knowing when to replace old playground equipment can be tricky,” says Miracle Recreation, one of the leading playground equipment providers in the country.
One of the benefits of upgrading or replacing your existing playground is that you can take this opportunity to make sure your equipment and recreational area is designed so that children of all ages and abilities can play and have fun together.
While in the past inclusiveness may have only focused on such basics as wheelchair accessibility, in 2021 inclusiveness translates into a whole host of new and exciting equipment options.
“It goes beyond basic wheelchair accessibility and ensures that all kids have an inviting and enjoyable playground experience,” says Miracle Recreation.
In an era of tight playground budgets, making your existing playground more exclusive can be accomplished without breaking the bank.
What is exactly an inclusive playground that can accommodate all ages and
abilities?
Miracle Recreation says that an inclusive playground should “welcome everyone of different ages and abilities, not just children. This includes families with children and parents who have sensory-processing disorders, autism, and people of all ages in wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
An inclusive playground should include the following fundamentals:
Provide Multi-Sensory Play Experiences: All kids learn at their pace, and multi-sensor play experiences help kids explore their world and develop physical strength, cognitive functioning, and develop motor skills. Multi-sensory experiences can include:
Encourage All Kids to Play: An inclusive playground should be designed to provide a safe space where kids of all ages and abilities can come together and share experiences. This design can be accomplished by:
Allow Greater Accessibility: An inclusive playground allows for kids in wheelchairs, on crutches and with other mobility issues the ability to play. Design elements should include:
Support Kids on the Autism Spectrum: Kids with sensory integration disorders, or those on the autism spectrum, need playground equipment that stimulates their senses without overwhelming them. Design elements might include:
Create Welcoming Social Environments: There are different stages of play and equipment needs to support kids in each stage from interacting and playing games with their friends to wanting a space alone. Equipment should support theses stages of play:
If your budget does not allow for the design and build of an entirely new playground, then you will want carefully which equipment to upgrade or replace.
There are some easy indicators of which playground may need replacing including:
“You can easily make any playground more accessible and inclusive,” says Miracle Recreation. “It may be a matter of adding a few new pieces of equipment to make a playground for everyone.”
For small changes to keep you within budget, Miracle Recreation recommends the following ADA-compliant equipment:
Contact May Recreation in the Houston area today for help in making your existing playground more inclusive.