Outdoor play is good for everyone, but is an especially great activity for children – and most kids love playgrounds. Accessible playgrounds give kids of all abilities opportunities for inclusive play.
In a New York Times Opinion piece, The Power of the Playground , David Borenstein writes:
Play requires the acquisition of a complex set of skills. It’s not just about exercising or letting off steam. It’s about making agreements with others as equals, stepping into an imagined structure, and accepting that structure even when things don’t go your way. This may be why Plato considered play the ideal preparation for citizenship.
To see what’s possible, take a look at this list of 30 Most Impressive Accessible and Inclusive Playgrounds. These accessible playgrounds not only have ramps, but also adaptive swings, slides seesaws, splash pads as well as raised sandboxes, tree houses and climbing nets – all of which make them accessible to disabled kids looking for outdoor activities. These accessible parks are not simply playgrounds with a few accommodations, they are purpose-built to create a play area for kids of all abilities.
Finding Accessible Playgrounds
Two amazing resources for finding accessible playgrounds are Playgrounds for Everyone and AccessiblePlayground.net.
Playgrounds for Everyone
This is a community-edited guide to accessible playgrounds created by National Public Radio (NPR). Visitors can search by zip code and get list of parks in the area with information about park features, the city and state where park is, and a map with park locations pinned. Visitors can click a link to get a complete overview of each park that includes:
- Address
- Directions
- Description of the park that includes whether or not the park has:
- Smooth-surface-throughout
- Transfer-stations-to-play-components
- Ramps-to-play-components
- Accessible-swing
- Sound-play-components
- Sight-impaired-play-components
- Safety-fence
- Single-entrance
- Details about the features List of other accessible parks nearby
- Information about the agency responsible for the park and the owner
AccessiblePlayground.net’s Playground Directory
Described as “the home for inclusive playgrounds,” this site catalogs over 1,200 entries from 11 countries with more added every day. Visitors can search by location, features and play structure manufacturer. The summary includes:
- Name of parks that meet search criteria
- Address of each park
- Links to a “park bio”
- Park’s web site
- Map
National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD) Park Directory
This is a directory of parks throughout the U.S. that may have some accessible features.
NOTE:
Both of these sites grow through user contributions. If you know of or find accessible playgrounds that are not listed in these directories, please take a minute to share that info with the sites. Also, let us know to by submitting your recommendations in the comments section below.
Additional Resources
You might also be interested in our Guide to Theme Parks for Disabled Kids and Adults as well as Para Sport Events in the United States.
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