Think about the playgrounds you bring your children to. Are they inclusive or just physically accessible? Ground-level activities, ramps and wheelchair-friendly surfacing are fantastic but fall short of true inclusivity. It’s time to reimagine play. Learn Where Can I Buy Inclusive Commercial Playground Equipment for Parks?
Play spaces should move beyond basic accessibility, engaging children of all abilities with innovative commercial playground equipment. Even with a hectic schedule, you can achieve this goal if you know where to buy commercial playground equipment for parks.
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The Problem with Traditional “Inclusive” Playgrounds
If you’re like most moms, you believe children of all ages and abilities should have equal access to play areas. In 2023, the National Recreation and Park Association’s Park Pulse poll found that 76% of parents in the United States feel it’s important for their local government to invest in safe, inclusive playground equipment to expand access. Studies in Canada show similar results.
Even though most parents agree children should be able to come together at a communal place designed just for them, traditional “inclusive” play spaces often underdeliver.
Since public recreation areas are subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or the Accessible Canada Act (ACA), most schools, parks and recreation agencies have prioritized accessibility. Compliance is essential for ensuring accessibility on playgrounds. However, it is not always enough.
Places meeting minimum ADA compliance requirements fall short of truly engaging children with diverse needs. It’s time to move beyond ramps and accessible swings to find creative ways to support kids with complex sensory, cognitive and social needs.
Key Principles of Innovative Inclusive Playground Design
Four key principles determine a park’s ability to provide an inclusive play environment.
Universal Design Principles
Universal design helps everyone access and use products, buildings and environments. If commercial manufacturers design with this concept in mind, kids with special needs won’t need adaptive tools to have fun alongside their friends.
Sensory-Rich Environments
An inclusive playground focuses on each of the senses to foster multisensory experiences and support kids with sensory needs. Musical instruments, sand tables, landscaping and textured surfaces make great sensory play equipment.
Social Inclusion and Collaborative Play
Inclusive play equipment is a key part of social development at an early age. Inclusive playgrounds in schools can fight the risks of bullying, sometimes stopping it altogether and encouraging cooperation and collaborative play instead. Group swings, accessible playhouses and wheelchair-accessible merry-go-rounds promote social play.
Challenging and Engaging for All
You need a wide range of activities to cater to different skill levels, interests and sensory needs. For this purpose, an adaptive playground keeps things interesting and is much better than an overly simplistic structure.
Where Can I Buy Inclusive Commercial Playground Equipment for Parks?
Little Tikes Commercial, Miracle Recreation and Superior Playgrounds are the best in the business for those looking for inclusive commercial playground equipment for parks.
Little Tikes Commercial
Little Tikes Commercial is on a mission to remove barriers. Its partnership with Unlimited Play — an award-winning nonprofit organization dedicated to designing fully accessible structures — helps achieve this goal.
This company’s standout products include the turnabout spinner — an accessible merry-go-round with a ground-level entry point — and the inclusive rail-rider, which lets kids glide side by side.
One example of Little Tike Commercial’s work is Jake’s Field of Dreams, a playground in Wentzville, Missouri. It honors a boy who had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and dreamt of growing up to play sports. His dream lives on through this inclusive, sports-themed area.
Miracle Recreation
For over nine decades, Miracle Recreation has designed commercial structures for schools, campgrounds, parks and urban areas. Its line of accessible playground equipment seeks to create exciting, challenging spaces for everyone.
Its sensory panels are textured and colored, encouraging imaginative play. Another great product is the inclusive seesaw, which has a back, handlebars and a five-point harness.
Miracle Recreation says every structure is built to be innovative, from the “smallest details like clamps and coatings to the next big idea in play concepts.” It believes its dedication to innovation “is the secret to creating playgrounds that last.”
Superior Playgrounds
Superior Playgrounds engineers and manufacturers American-made adaptive playground structures. One example is the team swing, which has a bowl-shaped design to enable cooperative play.
Other popular products include ADA panels, outdoor musical instruments, electronic shade structures and ground-level merry-go-rounds.
Superior Playgrounds says its “commitment to creating safe, innovative and durable” structures is personal, not business. It exceeds industry standards and strives to make cooperative recreation accessible for every kid.
Beyond the Equipment — Creating Truly Inclusive Play Spaces
A park should be a cohesive, functional environment. Go beyond individual items. Is the layout easily navigable? Are there quiet, shady areas for those with sensory issues? Is there accessible seating?
Part of designing a playground for special needs is aligning your idea with the latest research and emerging trends. For instance, prioritizing a nature-based space may be best if greenery helps children’s social development.
Get your community involved in the design process. Research shows play structures generate more health benefits if you tailor them to your community’s needs, making them as interesting and engaging as possible. The result will also be well-received if everyone is on the same page. Community members can also act as volunteers or receive training to better facilitate inclusive play.
The Future of Inclusive Play
The future of inclusive fun starts with you. Your decision to place accessible playground equipment in a local park will positively impact your family and your entire community. Become an advocate for innovative, inclusive playgrounds.
Your work will bring the power of play to your entire neighborhood. You could start a trend that unites children of all abilities across your state. It begins with knowing where you can buy commercial playground equipment for parks.
