Play for All

Inclusive Playground Inspiration

Children playing on a wheelchair carousel on a playground

Inclusive Playground Ideas

Inclusive playgrounds are built upon the philosophical bedrock of universal design—enabling engagement by children with a myriad of abilities. These designs must facilitate not only physical inclusivity but also cater to cognitive, sensory and social needs. Each piece of play equipment is meticulously crafted to be as barrier-free as possible, ensuring that children of all abilities can be involved in the play activity.

Creating inclusive parks that champion inclusivity not only meets legal requirements but also enriches the local community. These playgrounds become community hubs where diversity is celebrated and encouraged through play.

If you're considering building an inclusive playground, this page offers you different examples of inclusive playgrounds to start your planning phase.

Why is inclusive playgrounds important?

Inclusive Playground Examples

Get the full story and find inspiration from the inclusive parks below

Acorn Park SEN School

Acorn Park School is part of the Outcomes First Group, which runs around 40 Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools, colleges and homes for municipalities across the UK. Acorn Park School is for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to an extent that makes it too demanding for them to join their local school.

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A boy an girl playing on a playground carousel

Buccaneer Bay, Central Park

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.“

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Timmeler Meer Recreation Centre

Stück zum Glück: One of 50 inclusive playgrounds in Germany, by Aktion Mensch, Procter&Gamble and REWE.

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Magasine

Universal Inclusion in Playgrounds

A peek of what you get

A walkthrough of the best-in-class design principles behind an inclusive playground
A thorough checklist to get your inclusive design right
Inspirational inclusive cases from around the world
Our recommendation for the best inclusive playground products

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Why are Inclusive Playgrounds Important

Playgrounds provide an safe area for children to explore and play freely. This is why all children should be considered, including children with disabilities, when great playgrounds are designed.

A playground should allow an individual child feel seen, heard and included. An inclusive park can encourage or inhibit play with its location, design and play equipment. Ensuring that inclusive playground equipment meets stringent safety standards is paramount for fostering a secure environment. Inclusive playground designs must cater to various abilities, intentionally integrating tactile, auditory, and visual elements.

The concept of "universal design" and "adaptive play" must always underpin decision-making to truly embrace inclusivity in play spaces designed for diverse abilities and preferences. If you're looking to build an inclusive park playground, check out your inclusive playground funding options.

Playground planning