The Hidden Problem with Playground Tendering

The Hidden Problem with Playground Tendering

Inclusive playgrounds are often discussed as though accessibility is simply a matter of “adding a few extra items.” In reality, the way playground projects are priced and awarded can directly work against inclusion from the very beginning.

This is an issue that is rarely discussed publicly, yet it has a major impact on disabled children and families.

How Playground Quotes Are Commonly Structured

In many cases, councils, schools, and community organisations first decide on a fixed budget for a new playground project.

Once the budget is set, playground companies compete against each other to provide the largest playground or the highest number of play items within that budget.

On the surface, this approach may appear logical and financially responsible. But in practice, it often creates a serious problem for accessibility and inclusion.

Why?

Because accessible playground equipment is typically far more highly engineered than standard playground equipment.

Accessible Equipment Is More Complex

Modern inclusive playground equipment is not simply “normal equipment with a ramp.”

True accessibility often requires:

• stronger engineering
• larger structural components
• reinforced safety systems
• wheelchair transfer spaces
• integrated accessibility features
• specialised surfacing requirements
• wider circulation areas
• higher load capacities
• inclusive seating and restraint systems
• additional safety compliance testing

All of these factors increase manufacturing and installation costs.

As a result, one high-quality accessible item may cost significantly more than several standard play items.

The Problem with “Most Pieces for the Cheapest Price”

When playground providers compete primarily on quantity and price, accessibility can quickly become disadvantaged.

A company quoting mostly standard equipment can often appear to offer “better value” because they can include more visible pieces of equipment within the same budget.

Meanwhile, genuinely inclusive equipment may reduce the total number of items that can be delivered within that same budget.

This creates an unfortunate situation where accessibility is often viewed as something that “takes away” from the rest of the playground rather than something that improves the playground for everyone.

Limited Accessible Product Ranges

Another issue is that many playground suppliers still offer only a small range of truly accessible equipment.

Some providers may include only one or two accessible items within an otherwise standard playground design. Others rely heavily on equipment that appears inclusive in marketing material but offers limited real-world usability for disabled children.

This can leave councils and community groups with very limited choices when trying to create genuinely inclusive spaces.

In some cases, “accessible” equipment may technically meet minimum requirements while still being difficult or impossible for many disabled children to use independently.

Accessible on paper does not always mean accessible in real life.

Inclusion Requires a Different Mindset

If we want genuinely inclusive playgrounds, accessibility cannot simply be treated as an optional extra added at the end of the design process.

Inclusion needs to become part of the core project brief from the beginning.

That means asking different questions:

• Who is missing from this playground?
• Can disabled children participate alongside their peers?
• Can families move through the space safely and comfortably?
• Does the surfacing actually work for wheelchairs and mobility equipment?
• Can children of different abilities play together rather than separately?
• Is the equipment designed around real-world use or minimum compliance?

Lived Experience Matters

One of the biggest gaps in playground design is the lack of lived-experience input during planning and procurement.

Disabled people and families often identify practical accessibility problems that are overlooked in traditional design processes.

A playground may technically comply with standards while still excluding many users in everyday reality.

That is why consultation with disabled people, carers, and lived-experience advocates is essential when designing inclusive public spaces.

Inclusion Is a Long-Term Community Investment

Inclusive playground equipment may cost more initially, but the long-term social value is enormous.

Inclusive playgrounds help create:

• stronger communities
• greater social participation
• more welcoming public spaces
• improved wellbeing for families
• opportunities for children to play together
• greater visibility and acceptance of disability within the community

The real question should not be:
“Why does accessible equipment cost more?”

The real question should be:
“Why are disabled children still expected to accept less?”

True inclusion requires more than good intentions.

It requires communities willing to prioritise accessibility from the very beginning.