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Inclusive Play

Guide to creating inclusive playgrounds

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What is an inclusive playground? 

Inclusive play spaces provide opportunities for everyone

to play together, are accessible, engage children of all ages
and abilities and encourages them to interact with each
other.

Inclusive play spaces allow children to connect with others in a

positive way, relieve feelings of stress, stimulate creative thinking
and exploration, boost confidence and enable children to enjoy the
pleasure and benefits of play.

An inclusive play space aims to create enjoyable and challenging play

opportunities for all children. Inclusive play spaces ensure:

• accessibility to and within the play space

• opportunities for children to actively engage in play in their own way
• plenty of variation and choices to provide high play value

It isn’t possible for every child to access everything in the play space
in the same way. Inclusive play spaces are, however, places where
disabled and non-disabled children can play together.

Exclusion Segregation

Integration Inclusion
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Why are inclusive playgrounds important?

Playing is one of the most important ways that children

stay active, learn, make friends and socialise. Playing is
fundamental to children’s development and to a happy
childhood.

All children including disabled children, have a right to play. Inclusive

play spaces are not for specific groups of children but provide
opportunities for all children to play together. Children of all abilities,
their friends and families should be able to play in spaces where
everyone can join in and play in the way they would like to.

Did you About 15%

of the world’s population lives
know ? with some form of disability
- World Health Organization1

The Global Burden of Disease “Children have the right to

estimates the number of
children aged 0–14 years
experiencing “moderate or
severe disability” at
93 million (5.1%)
- World Health Organization1
rest and leisure, to engage
in play and recreational
activities appropriate
to the age of the child”
- Article 31 of the United Nations
Convention on the Rights
of the Child, 1989 2

“A person’s environment has a huge impact on the experience

and extent of disability. Inaccessible environments create
disability by creating barriers to participation and inclusion.”
- World Health Organization1

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How to start planning your inclusive playground

Designing for inclusion requires a careful consideration

of the overall design and elements within it. The result
shouldn’t be an accessible but boring space, nor should it
look like is ‘for’ disabled children.

Rather it should bring together play value and accessibility in creative

ways. The best play spaces have a balanced offer with some higher
and some lower challenge activities, to provide something for as
many ability groups as possible.

At the design stage, community groups, landscape architects and

designers can ensure that a play space is fun and full of opportunities
to play in a variety of ways. In doing so, they can create play spaces
for children to enjoy while gaining lifelong physical, cognitive,
emotional and social benefits.

Here we outline the main first steps to take when planning your
inclusive playground to ensure a successful design.
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Mission and vision statements

It’s important to create mission and vision statements to

maintain focus and avoid drifting.

The extent to which the committees’ attention can be focused on the

mission will determine the quality, cost-effectiveness, and timeline of
the outcome.

Vision Statement

A vision statement answers the question “what does it look like

when we succeed?”, a vision is a long-term view, describing how the
organisation would like the world to be once it has succeeded in its
mission.

A vision statement is:

• Aspirational in that it’s about your goals.
• Inspirational in that it provides life and direction to your day-to-
day work.
• Motivational in that it provides a reason for the work you do.

One of the priorities for the group guiding the process is to define
what success means for them.
• Does success mean that more children are using the play space?
• Does success mean attracting more visitors to the town?
• Does success mean that specific children can now play outdoors?

The answers to such questions will help when deciding between

options and serve as a vision statement when introducing new
people to the project.

Mission Statement

Mission statements answers the questions “why does the project

exist?” and defines the fundamental purpose.

Your mission statement explains what your business must do day-to-

day to make your vision statement a reality.

To write a mission statement, you must first create a vision statement.

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Create a committee and assign roles

To increase the chances of success, it’s a good idea to share

responsibilities, increase the diversity of ideas and increase
buy-in from user groups and the surrounding community.

On the worksheet provided in one of the posters we have outlined

a list of roles that you can consider assigning as part of the planning
committee.

If your group is constituted as a charity or social enterprise, you will

be expected to have office bearers and follow relevant rules. You
might choose to appoint leads who can also have small groups of
volunteers to help them or act as a sub-committee.

If fundraising, designate someone who will be leading this activity.

They will be in charge of raising money for the project at grassroots
and corporate levels.

What do some of the roles mean?

Co-chairs: they are the coordinators and leaders of the entire play
space project. Co-chairs should have adequate time available to lead
the project and be organised and resourceful.

Treasurer: they will be responsible for finances, financial record

keeping and keeping track of the project’s budget.

Secretary: this person will ensure meetings are minuted properly

and ensure all necessary records are kept and stored securely.

Communications: they will be responsible for press, social media

and publicity that lets the wider community support your project and
celebrate your accomplishments.

Landscape architect: they understand the relationship between

design, construction, maintenance, regulations and the cost of
outdoor play spaces.

They can help you generate creative ideas with technical

understanding and serve as project managers, coordinate meetings,
involve the appropriate stakeholders, understand regulation
processes and supervise construction activities.
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Create your timeline

Establish a realistic, achievable timeline to keep the project

manageable and to maintain support.

When creating a timeline:

• Identify all the steps that need to be taken and, for each, work out
how much time they are likely to take.
• Identify any critical dates and deadlines (holidays, funding
application deadlines, planning approvals, etc.).
• Check how the task and timescales relate to each other (for
example do you need planning permission before submitting
funding application?).
• Consider the impact of seasons, weather and holidays on
completion of the proposed tasks.
• Consider breaking the project into phases.

Playground Funding Options

Fundraising

From walk-a-thons to community yard sales, there are an abundance

of fundraising options available. The more money raised by the
community, the more people will feel invested in the project,
builds civic pride, strengthens neighbourhood bonds, and creates
momentum for a successful inclusive playground to be the hub of
the community.

Fundraising tips

• Create a structured fundraising plan with transparency and

regular status reports.
• Partner with local government and investigate the possibility of
local funding and land use.
• Solicit in-kind marketing and media support from a local
advertising or marketing agency.
• Engage community organisations to help fundraise: scouts,
school groups, houses of worship, civic groups, etc.
• Raise enough money to cover long-term maintenance and site
upkeep.

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Funding Options

Grants from trusts and foundations

Proper planning and tools make securing grant funds easier. There
are many resources available to help streamline the process for
finding and submitting federal, state and private foundation grants.

There may be some corporations that also offer grants for park and
playground projects. When looking for financing for your project, look
for grants from a variety of sources to increase your chances of full
funding. You can find playground grants from:

• The government – Federal, state and local governments offer

grants for parks and playgrounds as well as community projects.
• Corporate business – Many businesses offer grants for
community projects, including grants for playground equipment
for schools and neighbourhoods. These corporate companies
often want to give back, enjoy tax breaks, and garner good will
and publicity. Businesses may donate money specifically for
lower-income areas while other contributions are more general.
• Non-profit groups – Many non-profit organisations offer grants
for school playgrounds and community fitness projects.
• Foundations – Foundations offer money for general community
projects and other specific uses.

Grant writing tips

• Do your homework – research and write according to the grant

requirements of each prospective funder
• Present a logical narrative – outline your proposal before you
begin writing
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of what you are doing –
write confidently and concisely
• Answer each question asked – and include budget details and
visuals
• Edit your proposal in its entirety – and ask several different
people to review
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Funding Options

Other funding options

There are other ways to raise funds for your playground which you
can look into, these include:

• National lotteries tend to offer funding to help the local

community
• Businesses who are willing to help the community and
contribute in a variety of ways from cash to goods and services.
But you need resources to proactively manage relationships and
create win-win situations
• Crowdfunding could be a great way to raise funds for your
project online
• Local organisations – such as churches, schools and groups –
which may raise money, sometimes for you, sometimes alongside
you.

Financial planning tips

• Be open and accountable – trust in the committees’ leaders is an

essential component for success.
• Share the plan – write down and share the fundraising plan.
• Reporting – make regular reports on your financial status.
• Consider the long-term funding required for maintenance and
upkeep once the building starts.
• Maintenance costs – ask playground manufacturers about
annual maintenance costs of playgrounds for the size and nature
of the play space you are hoping to create.
• Create a financial plan for your project that allocates sufficient
sums to purchases and long-term maintenance.
• Use a matrix approach to consider where funds may come
from – these may include funds from grant giving bodies and
charitable trusts. National lotteries and other large funders, local
fundraising activities, individual donors, support in-kind (donations
of labour, equipment or time).
• Consider schemes to sponsor the purchase of specific bits of
equipment or ‘buy-a-brick’ type schemes.
• Visibility – keep your targets and achievements as visible as
possible.

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How to choose and inspect the location

It’s important to analyse your site
carefully at the beginning to minimise
preparation costs and maximize safety
and use for years to come.
If you are responsible for choosing a site for
your inclusive playground and have various
options available, answer the questions in the
worksheet for each location to ensure you
choose an area that is most suitable for your
project.
If you already have a site in mind, the worksheet
will help you evaluate its potential.
Helpful notes to complete the location
worksheet:
1. Who owns the land?
Check into the ownership, and contact
the landowner to discuss ownership,
general liability, access and other issues
which may impact on the project.
2. How big is the site?
The size of the site will influence design
decisions and cost.
3. Is the site ready?
If the site needs extensive preparatory
work, to be excavated or levelled,
expenses will increase. However, our
creative designers could work natural
features, such as hillock and slopes, into
the design to increase play value.
4. What man-made elements are on the
site now?
If there is an existing play space, our
professional team can help you assess its
safety so that you can decide whether to
remove it or not. Buried utilities include
sewage pipes and sprinkler pipes. These,
as well as other ‘hidden’ elements and
overhead utilities, can present hazards
during installation.
5. What natural elements are on the site?
Examples include: existing trees and
shrubs, ponds, streams, and drainage
ditches. Consider the pros and cons of
natural elements in terms of play value
and risk and benefit.
6. What is the space being used for now
and what has it been used for in the
past?
Find out what the land has been used
for in the past years to help avoid
unexpected costs and suggest ideas for
themes to build into the design.
7. Where is the site in relation to possible
obstacles or hazards?
Ideally the play space should be easily
visible as this helps with supervision of
children and can cut down on vandalism.
A play space should also be a safe
distance from roads or otherwise
congested areas.
8. What amenities are available?
Taking the time to inspect the site’s
amenities will help your planning and
budgets, as these facilities can be
important elements of an inclusive play
space.
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Worksheet for inspecting your locations

You can find helpful notes for each question on the previous page.

Name of site

Who owns the land? (1)

How big is the site? (2)

Is the site ready? (3)

Is there an existing play

space? (4)

Are there buried utilities? (4)

Are there overhead

elements? (4)

Are there natural elements?

(5)

Is the community aware of

this place? (6)

What has it been used for in

the past? (6)

Is the play space easily

visible? (7)

Is it a safe distance from

roads? (7)

Are there toilets & changing

facilities? (8)

Are there drinking

fountains? (8)

Is parking available? (8)

Is there disabled parking?

(8)

Are there other transport

facilities? (8)

Is there security lighting?

(8)

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Once your new playground is ready

Introduce the playground

Providing information about the play area via different

means allows parents and children to plan their visit.

For many disabled people, a significant amount of effort is required to

get out of their house. Therefore, for a trip to be enjoyable, information
about access, public transport, layout of space, activities and accessible
facilities needs to be provided ahead of time.

Create a website and other marketing material for the play space.
Fill out the below to get you started with the information you should
provide:
• Write a brief description of the space and its major features

• How do you get to the play space? Include public transport and road
directions

• Is the play space fenced?

• Does the play space have accessible features, such as toilets and
picnic tables?

You can also think about offering orientation materials to prepare a child
for their visit, for example, a video, a virtual map, a printable map, etc.

Another thing you can consider developing are symbol or picture cards
that can be printed out so that a child can point to where they want to
go. These will also enable parents or carers to create story boards for
children to prepare them for their visit.
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Public statement of inclusive play

Educate the public about inclusion at a local level and

make a clear statement to the community about the goals
of the play space.

Install a sign at the entrance of the park which explains the purpose
of the play space and consider adding an audio button that is pushed
to receive the information about the play space. Use positive images
which give the message ‘everyone is welcome’.

Contact us

Get in touch with us for advice, recommendations and

ideas on designing an inspirational inclusive play space
for your outdoor area.

Our expert team will be happy to help and guide you through the
process.
Tel: +46 380 473 00
Email: hags@hags.com
Website: www.hags.com

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Some of our Inclusive Products

La Casita 8066515 Circus 8049443 Vibes 8067506

Dragonfly 8062135

Dax 8005338

Titan 8062137 Stratus Group Swing 8000751

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Traditional and Dynamic Play

Bonnie 8057394 Mirage 8049731

Tango 8053217

Olvon 8042460

Talk Tube 8010619 Spinmee 8062101 Skagen 8042483

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Accessible and inclusive multi-play units

UniPlay Cullerma 8061767

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Multiple levels of challenge

UniPlay Buridos 8061729

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Case Studies

Nature inspired, Australia

An inclusive nature-based playground

where everyone can play together.

Featuring four play zones and numerous amount of

play activities, including tactile and sensory items.
This play area caters for children of all ages and
abilities.

Play for all, Spain

A unique play area that is inclusive and

accessible while complementing the
surrounding environment.

This play area has a variety of playground

equipment and play elements that offer many
different types of activities for all ages and abilities.
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Case Studies

Kingsland School, UK

Vibrant, sociable spaces that are

accessible and inclusive for a range of
disabilities.

Kirsty Rowlands, assistant headteacher: “Having

these new areas not only encourages positive
social skills but it also meets their sensory needs”.

Treehouse themed, Sweden

An incredibly popular play area with

children enjoying the numerous
inclusive play equipment.

The wonderful treehouse-themed customised

multi-play unit meets inclusive and accessibility
needs, as well as providing a natural look and feel.

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Resources

HAGS Inclusive Guidance

www.hags.co.uk/inclusive

Statistics
World report on disability by World Health Organization:
https://www.who.int/disabilities/world_report/2011/report/en/
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child:
https://downloads.unicef.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/
UNCRC_united_nations_convention_on_the_rights_of_the_child.pdf?_
ga=2.117485769.1171185578.1562595534-1661192255.1562595534

Funding
Grand writing tips:
https://www.fundingcentre.com.au/help/writing-grant
Grant writing for dummies (PDF):
https://www.mreza-mira.net/wp-content/uploads/Grant-Writing-For-
Dummies.pdf
Funding application guide:
https://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2012/jan/10/
funding-application-guide
Crowdfunding tips:
https://www.wikihow.com/Crowdfund
Crowdfunding guide:
https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/crowdfunding-guide_en
Fundraising tips and ideas:
https://www.wikihow.com/Fundraise

Funding
In-depth fundraising guide:
http://www.reading.gov.uk/media/1299/Institute-of-Fundraising-Good-
Fundraising-Guide/pdf/Institute-Of-Fundraising-Good-Fundraising-Guide.pdf
Step-by-step fundraising guide:
https://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2014/jul/23/building-
a-charity-fundraising-strategy
How to create a fundraising plan:
https://www.causevox.com/blog/nonprofit-fundraising-plan/
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Resources

Creating a website
How to make a free website:
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Free-Website
Create a free website with Google:
https://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/business/how-it-works/website/

Admin
Timeline Maker: www.officetimeline.com/online

Examples of groups supporting inclusive play spaces

around the world
KaBOOM! (USA): www.kaboom.org
Play Unlimited (USA): www.unlimitedplay.org
Playground Ideas (International): www.playgroundideas.org
Playright Children’s Play Association (Hong Kong):
www.playright.org.hk/en
Touched by Olivia (Australia): www.touchedbyolivia.com.au
KIDS (UK): www.kids.org.uk
Child in the City (Europe): www.childinthecity.org

Play Safety
RoSPA Play Safety: www.rospa.com/Play-Safety
Changing Places: www.changing-places.org

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Guide to creating inclusive playgrounds

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