What’s Trending: Explore Emerging Trends in the Playground Industry
February 24, 2025“A top priority for any inclusive space is fostering equitability through design. People with disabilities want to be able to engage in play like everyone else and, to do so, we need both equipment and spaces that have been designed for us to connect with our peers. When we design intentionally, we allow everyone of every ability to do what they’re meant to do at the playground, and that’s play together.”
~Jill Moore, Inclusive Play Specialist, Landscape Structures, and Paralympian
Creating an inclusive playground fosters an environment where children and people of all abilities and ages can play and grow together. According to a 2018 poll by the National Recreation and Park Association, nearly 9 in 10 Americans feel strongly that all playgrounds should offer inclusive options, yet many communities and schools are behind when it comes to ensuring children and parents of all abilities can play together equally.
Photo credit: Landscape Structures
Inclusive equipment encourages social interaction, promotes physical activity, and supports cognitive development for everyone. A playground designed with inclusivity in mind not only follows ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) guidelines but goes beyond to offer meaningful experiences for all visitors.
The Importance of Inclusive Playgrounds
Playgrounds are essential spaces for childhood development, where kids build social skills, develop motor functions, and nurture their imaginations. Unfortunately, many playgrounds unknowingly exclude children with disabilities, limiting access to the full benefits of play. By incorporating inclusive playground equipment, we can break down barriers, ensuring that all children—whether they use mobility aids, have sensory sensitivities, or experience other challenges—can fully engage in play.
Here are five tips for making a playground inclusive for people of all abilities and ages:
1. Incorporate Accessible Pathways and Surfacing
The foundation of any inclusive playground is ensuring that everyone, regardless of their physical abilities, can access and navigate the space with ease. This means choosing surfacing that accommodates caregivers, wheelchairs, walkers, strollers and more. Turf, rubber tiles, and poured-in-place rubber surfacing are excellent choices because they offer a firm yet forgiving surface.
In addition to surfacing, accessible pathways should be wide enough to comfortably accommodate wheelchair users and those walking side by side.
“Making sure pathways are wide enough is crucial not only for mobility device accessibility but it’s also essential in other areas of accessibility like allowing visual room for deaf individuals to sign side by side,” Moore explains.
Additionally, ramps and transfer stations should lead up to elevated play areas, allowing children of all abilities to access as much of the playground as possible. It’s important to incorporate accessible pieces that don’t require a transfer from mobility devices so everyone has a chance to play equally, and in their comfort zone.
2. Provide Equipment for All Sensory Needs
Sensory play helps children with and without disabilities develop motor skills, coordination and social skills. It’s crucial to design playgrounds that appeal to different sensory needs, especially for children on the autism spectrum or with sensory processing disabilities.
“Motion play from the sensory perspective of spinning, swinging and gliding builds our vestibular sense,” explains Moore. “The vestibular system is a complex set of structures and neural pathways in the inner ear that controls your sense of balance and spatial orientation which we build through movement play. Those sensory experiences of movement teach us how to take in motion and movement and to regulate that and stay safe.”
Tactile panels with textured surfaces, musical instruments and visual play elements, like interactive light panels, can provide sensory stimulation in a controlled way. Motion play features, like swings and spinners, promote balance and body awareness, while active elements like climbing structures engage muscles and support physical development. Incorporating water play features or sandboxes also allows children to explore different textures and temperatures, enriching their sensory experience.
3. Ensure Equipment Offers Varied Physical Challenges
Inclusive playgrounds should cater to children with varying levels of physical ability by offering equipment that provides different levels of challenge. For example, swings, slides and climbing structures can be designed with accessible features like molded bucket swings with harnesses or ramped slides for those with limited mobility. Additionally, features like climbing nets, monkey bars and balance beams encourage all children to explore and develop their motor coordination skills. The goal is to provide enough variety so that no child feels left out, regardless of their ability.
“Proprioception is how we learn to use our muscles and joints, this allows us to know where our body is in relation to objects in our environment and how much force to use when executing movements,” says Moore. “Someone with a disability might develop that skill at a different pace or really love activities that allow them to engage in deep muscle movements like climbing and jumping, which is crucial to building that proprioceptive skill.”
4. Create Social Play Opportunities
Playgrounds are about more than just physical play—they are spaces where children build friendships, develop social skills and learn teamwork. To promote social interaction, it’s essential to include group-oriented equipment such as large, round swings or see-saws that multiple children can use together.
Inclusive designs also incorporate communal spaces where children of all abilities can gather and interact. Features like sensory-rich play panels, musical instruments, or cooperative games encourage children to work together, creating an environment where friendships can flourish regardless of a child’s physical or cognitive abilities.
“It is important to remember that in playground design, there is value in being face-to-face making sure that anyone, of any ability, feels included in the play environment. This includes proximity,” says Moore. “Inclusive equipment should be integrated into the play space rather than in a separate area to foster equitable play.”
5. Include Seating and Play for All Ages
Playgrounds aren’t just for kids—adults also benefit from spaces designed with them in mind. When grandparents or caregivers bring children to the park, they should have comfortable seating and shaded areas nearby so they can keep a watchful eye on the children while also being included in the play environment.
“Shaded environments not only offer a place of comfort away from the sun but are essential spaces for heat sensitive individuals who may have difficulty regulating their body temperature,” says Moore.
Incorporating fitness stations or low-impact play structures, such as balance equipment and outdoor gym equipment, can also encourage adults to participate in physical activity. This intergenerational play encourages socialization between children and adults, fostering a sense of community while promoting physical health for all.
Final Thoughts
Building an inclusive playground requires thoughtful design that prioritizes accessibility, sensory engagement, physical challenges, social interaction and intergenerational play. When we create spaces that welcome everyone—regardless of ability or age—we promote equality, connection and joy.
By following these five tips, manufacturers and communities can ensure that playgrounds provide enriching, fulfilling play experiences for all visitors, fostering healthier, happier communities in the process.
Moore adds, “As manufacturers, the biggest thing we can do is foster equitability through design. We have the opportunity through the equipment we design to create spaces that ignite moments of joy for any individual regardless of ability or age.”
