Findings from a new NCA research study.  The investigation is a query of experts in our field and a concensus on what they believe are the best practices for accessibility in parks and recreation.  The Executive Summary follows below.  A complimentary free copy of the Final Report (PDF) is available online through the Indiana University Scholar Works Repository.

by Jennifer K. Skulski, CPSI

Introduction

The public playground is, by far, one of the most important settings for child development. It is one of the few environments where a child has the freedom to run and jump, climb, swing and leap, yell, reign, conjure, create, dream or meditate. In this complicated world that we live in, the playground is a safe and common place for children to come together, to discover the value of play, to learn about each other, to recognize their similarities and differences, to meet physical and social challenges, to leave comfort zones and evolve into the little young people they are meant to be. It is a microcosm for life lessons, from challenge and risk to conflict resolution and cooperation. When we design for these purposes and apply the Principles of Universal Design, we design for inclusive play where every child, regardless of ability or disability, is welcomed and benefits physically, developmentally, emotionally and socially from the environment.