♿ Accessible Playground Design Checklist
Accessible Playground Design Checklist
Accessible Playground Design Checklist
Designing an inclusive playground requires more than installing a single accessible piece of equipment. True accessibility considers the entire environment — from arrival and circulation through to play experiences and independent use.
This checklist helps councils, planners, and designers ensure playgrounds work for the widest range of people in the community.
1. Arrival and Access
☐ Is there an accessible route from parking areas or public footpaths to the playground entrance?
☐ Are entrances wide enough for wheelchairs and mobility scooters?
☐ Are there any steps, lips, or steep slopes that create barriers?
☐ Are accessible parking spaces located nearby?
☐ Can someone using a wheelchair reach the playground independently?
2. Accessible Surfaces
☐ Are surfaces firm, stable, and slip-resistant?
☐ Can wheelchairs, walking frames, and pushchairs move safely across the play area?
☐ Does the surface remain usable in wet weather?
☐ Are accessible surfaces provided through the play space, not just to the entrance?
☐ Are loose materials such as bark or sand avoided on key access routes?
3. Circulation and Space
☐ Are paths wide enough for wheelchairs to turn and pass each other?
☐ Is there sufficient turning space for powered wheelchairs?
☐ Are routes between play elements free from obstacles?
☐ Are there sudden level changes that could stop small front castor wheels?
☐ Can users move easily between equipment without assistance?
4. Ramps and Gradients
☐ Are ramps designed with appropriate gradients?
☐ Are level landings provided at the top and bottom of ramps?
☐ Are slopes manageable for both manual and powered wheelchairs?
☐ Are surfaces slip-resistant on ramps and slopes?
☐ Are ramps designed to feel safe when travelling downhill as well as uphill?
5. Inclusive Play Equipment
☐ Is there equipment that wheelchair users can access directly?
☐ Does the playground include ground-level play options?
☐ Can equipment be used without lifting the user?
☐ Does the play space include different types of play experiences?
Examples may include:
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movement play
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sensory play
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social play
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quiet spaces
☐ Can children of different abilities play together?
6. Designing Beyond Early Childhood
☐ Does the playground consider older children, teenagers, and disabled adults?
☐ Can equipment support larger body sizes and weights?
☐ Are seating areas comfortable for carers and grandparents?
☐ Are spaces welcoming for families with mixed abilities?
Inclusive playgrounds should support intergenerational use.
7. Safety and Real-World Use
☐ Does the design work in real-world conditions, including wet weather?
☐ Are carers able to assist safely where required?
☐ Are manual handling risks reduced wherever possible?
☐ Are hazards such as sudden drops or trip points avoided?
☐ Is equipment intuitive and easy to understand?
8. Community Experience
☐ Can families with disabled children use the playground without special arrangements?
☐ Can siblings of different abilities play together?
☐ Does the playground encourage social interaction and shared play?
☐ Does the space feel welcoming for everyone in the community?
The Key Question
When planning or evaluating any playground, ask one simple question:
Can everyone reach, move through, and participate in this space safely and independently?
If the answer is yes, the playground is moving toward being truly inclusive.
Accessible playgrounds create spaces where children and adults of all abilities can experience movement, play, and connection.
Inclusive design benefits:
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disabled children
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families with prams or pushchairs
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older adults
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people recovering from injury
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carers and extended families
Designing playgrounds that work for everyone strengthens communities and ensures public spaces are welcoming to all.
