Inclusive playgrounds benefit all children regardless of their specific needs. Watching children of all ages and abilities explore, discover and imagine together is priceless, as any parent, caregiver or community resident can attest to. So, with some extra planning and the right commercial playground supplier, you can build an inclusive play place that embraces every child in the community.
Here are the key reasons to choose an inclusive playground design.
Offer a safe, rewarding space for children with disabilities.
The National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs reports that nearly 1 in 5 children ages 12-17 have special healthcare needs. However, few playgrounds accommodate these special needs. As a result, children with disabilities often end up playing alone or staying at home.
The good news is that you can change this for your community or school. An inclusive playground allows all children to play in a safe and rewarding environment. Not only will the kids appreciate this, but so will the parents and siblings who are often excluded as well.
Separate your playground from others.
Another reason to consider building an inclusive playground is to separate your park from others. Any playground is an investment, and the best way to get a return is by ensuring your park has lots of visitors.
If you notice, most parks have the same basic equipment: a couple of slides, a set of swings and monkey bars. Imagine what your park could offer the community - rope netting, crawl tubes, ziplines, playhouses and so much more! Everyone will want to play at the park - YOUR park!
Work towards building an inclusive community.
If your goal is to create a more positive, diverse community, inclusive playground equipment is a great way to start. Parents and caregivers will have a clean, safe environment for their children, and they can meet others in the neighborhood.
To encourage all residents to use and enjoy your park, consider adding other amenities such as dog park equipment, outdoor fitness equipment and a challenge course. Cunningham Recreation can help with all of this, as well as strategically place park benches, shade structures and garbage receptacles for people who want to stay all day!
If you’re ready to build the perfect playground for your school or community, contact Cunningham Recreation today. We specialize in the design and construction of inclusive playgrounds that bring whole communities together.
