Case Details
Location
United Kingdom
Customer
Dartford Borough Council
Sector
age group
5+
user capacity
100+
An inclusive park playground
Central Park in Dartford lives up to the city’s mission of having an offering that appeals to all children, including children with various disabilities. Jeremy Kite, MBE, Dartford Borough Council’s leader, says:
‘Our playground in Central Park was worn down. The aim was to establish a new play environment with a distinctive, immersive playground that would benefit the borough’s children for years to come.’
"The themed equipment encourages imaginative play, which is commonly popular with young children as well as many children with learning disabilities, who often show the play behaviors of younger children"
Jeremy A Kite MBE, Councillor
An inclusive playground design
The council selected inclusive play equipment to complement these key themed elements: pirate ships, whales and light towers, to provide stimulating, thrilling and challenging activities for children of all ages and abilities to enjoy.
A calm zone (or respite area) was established with sensory play equipment to cater to children with neurodiverse challenges, allowing them a respite when the playground’s tumble becomes overwhelming.
The area is also a choice for children who prefer to play in smaller groups or individually. The themed equipment encourages imaginative play, which is commonly popular with younger children as well as with many children with learning disabilities, who often show the play behaviours of younger children.
Physical
Joy of movement: motor skills, muscle, cardio and bone density
Cognitive
Joy of learning: curiosity, understanding of causal relationships and knowledge of the world
Social-Emotional
Joy of being together: teamwork, tolerance and sense of belonging
Creative
Joy of creating: co-creation and experimenting with materialsEquipment at this park
Want to learn about more cases like this?
Please fill in your contact details and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
