Downloadable Checklists

Downloadable Checklists

Practical Tools to Get Inclusive Playground Design Right

Designing an inclusive playground is complex.

There are many factors to consider:

Access
Surfaces
Equipment
Sensory needs
Social inclusion

👉 And small details matter.

That’s where checklists become powerful.

They turn complex design into clear, actionable steps.

Why Use a Checklist?

Inclusive playgrounds often fail not because of intention—but because of missed details.

Checklists help ensure:

✔ Nothing is overlooked
✔ Design decisions are consistent
✔ Accessibility is built in from the start

Design guides recommend using structured checklists to ensure all aspects of accessibility, movement, and play are considered during planning

👉 A checklist turns good ideas into real-world outcomes

The Key Principle: Inclusion Is a System

Inclusive playground design is not one decision.

It is a combination of:

Layout
Movement
Communication
Equipment
Experience

Checklists help ensure these elements work together as one system.

👉 If one part is missed, the whole experience can fail

What Our Checklists Are Designed For

These downloadable checklists are designed to help:

✔ Councils

Plan and review playground projects

✔ Schools and communities

Advocate for inclusive design

✔ Playground designers

Ensure nothing is missed

✔ Funders and decision-makers

Assess quality and value

👉 These are practical tools—not theory

What the Checklists Cover

1. Access and Movement

Ensuring users can:

Arrive
Enter
Move through the space

Checklist items include:

✔ Continuous accessible pathways
✔ Adequate width and turning space
✔ Clear connections between areas

Inclusive design guidance highlights that users must be able to get around easily and access all areas of the playground

2. Surfaces and Ground Conditions

The surface determines whether a playground works.

Checklist items include:

✔ Firm, stable surfaces
✔ No loose materials blocking access
✔ Smooth transitions between surfaces

Loose or unstable surfaces are widely recognised as barriers to accessibility.

👉 If the surface fails, everything fails

3. Play Equipment and Usability

It is not enough to install equipment.

Users must be able to use it.

Checklist items include:

✔ Ground-level play options
✔ Accessible elevated play
✔ Equipment usable from multiple positions

Checklists often include requirements such as ground-level accessibility and play from multiple sides

4. Space and Manoeuvring

Good equipment fails without space.

Checklist items include:

✔ Turning circles
✔ Hardstand areas
✔ Space for carers and assistance

👉 Space is what makes equipment usable

5. Sensory and Neurodiverse Design

Inclusive playgrounds must support:

Different sensory needs
Different ways of engaging

Checklist items include:

✔ Quiet spaces
✔ Movement-based play
✔ Sensory variation (visual, tactile, movement)

Inclusive design frameworks recommend providing both active and quiet play opportunities

6. Social and Inclusive Play

Play must allow:

Interaction
Choice
Different participation styles

Checklist items include:

✔ Shared play opportunities
✔ Parallel play options
✔ Inclusive group equipment

👉 Inclusion happens through participation

7. Communication and Wayfinding

Users must understand the space.

Checklist items include:

✔ Clear layout
✔ Visual communication
✔ Tactile or sensory cues

Some checklists include features like orientation aids, signage, and communication supports

8. Safety and Real-World Use

Design must work in real conditions.

Checklist items include:

✔ Clear sightlines
✔ Safe transitions
✔ No hidden hazards

👉 Safety must be built into design—not added later

9. Arrival and Parking

Access starts before the playground.

Checklist items include:

✔ Mobility parking
✔ Access aisles
✔ Drop-off areas
✔ Accessible routes to the playground

👉 If users cannot arrive safely, nothing else matters

How to Use These Checklists

These checklists can be used at multiple stages:

✔ Planning Stage

Guide early design decisions
Identify potential issues

✔ Design Review

Check drawings and layouts
Ensure compliance and usability

✔ Community Advocacy

Support funding requests
Show what is required

✔ Final Inspection

Confirm real-world usability

👉 They are designed to be used throughout the entire project

Why Downloadable Tools Matter

Downloadable checklists allow you to:

✔ Share with teams and stakeholders
✔ Use in meetings and planning sessions
✔ Apply consistently across projects

They turn inclusive design into something that is:

👉 repeatable, measurable, and achievable

The Problem Without Checklists

Without structured tools:

❌ Key elements are missed
❌ Designs rely on assumptions
❌ Accessibility becomes inconsistent

Even well-intentioned projects can fail because details were overlooked

Designed from Real-World Experience

These checklists are built from:

Lived experience of disability
Real-world design failures
Practical usability issues

👉 They focus on what actually works—not just what looks good

The Bigger Picture

Checklists are not just documents.

They are:

Decision-making tools
Advocacy tools
Quality control tools

They help ensure playgrounds are:

✔ Usable
✔ Inclusive
✔ Successful

Key Takeaway

✔ Inclusive design requires attention to detail
✔ Checklists prevent critical mistakes
✔ Consistency leads to better outcomes

👉 If you don’t check it, you can’t guarantee it works

Call to Action

Download and use these checklists to:

Plan better playgrounds
Avoid common mistakes
Create truly inclusive spaces

Because:

Inclusive playgrounds don’t happen by chance — they happen by design.