Inclusive playgrounds a great move

The announcement by the Lord Mayor that Brisbane City Council intends to progressively build inclusive playgrounds for the 26 Wards of Brisbane is exciting.

Integration of a community begins with children and installing universal design and specific design playground equipment to meet the diversity of children’s needs in accessible, user friendly parklands is a natural progression of an inclusive community.

Parents in particular will welcome the opportunity for their children to integrate with other children and their families. For many children with a disability or learning difficulty, these All Abilities Playgrounds will be a boon, allowing children to express themselves, to interact and simply be included with other children.

From the work done in the past three years by playground designers, access consultants and local government, All Abilities Playgrounds have progressed to become vibrant, colourful locations with an array of ingenious yet safe pieces of playground equipment that can be used by children of varying ages and capacity. Such parklands are often themed and most feature active and passive activities.

This announcement heralds a big undertaking by Brisbane City Council to provide equitable services to children and their families through a progressive playgrounds building program that ensures all children have access to play equipment in their local area.

It will be welcomed and valued by all who use them.

Issued 15 April.