ARE PLAY SPACES ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL?

Are playgrounds accessible for all? The ADA (American Disabilities Act) requires all public play spaces for age 2 and older must be given equal opportunity to play. In the basics of design, this requires:

1. Accessible pathways to and from the play area as well as to the play elements.

2. Surfacing that meets ASTM F1951

In practice, there are frequent design oversights deeming many play spaces as inequitable towards disabled players. To list a few:

1. Ramps to equipment that do not connect to an ASTM F1951 surface.

2. Play boards are regularly installed on the lower level of the play element however the surface surrounding the play element does not meet ASTM F1951 - leaving no option for the disabled player to navigate towards the play element.

3. Slides with only steps up the side and no ASTMF1951 surface connecting back to a pathway or ramp to re-enter the slide.Individual play components (i.e.: talk tubes, tunnels, spinners) placed within the playground area are often inaccessible due to the surrounding surface.

Correcting design oversights prior to construction is an easy and often inexpensive fix. Softline Solutions offers many different ASTM F1951 surface solutions. Reach out to our team for a free, no obligation design consultation.