More Than Access: Designing Inclusive Parks Arch Street Park in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, goes beyond ADA standards to provide a truly inclusive play experience By Logan Garrett O is ver the course of the past decade, park and recreation professionals have been creating playgrounds that go beyond basic Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. In years past, playgrounds were expected to meet basic standards regarding ramps and surfacing, but communities around the country have begun to build play environments that are truly inclusive for people of all ages and abilities. This recent increased focus on creating inclusive play spaces underscores the difference between inclusion and accessibility. The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (tinyurl.com/3xys4j3s) stipulates that playground equipment and facilities constructed or altered on or before March 15, 2012, must be accessible and offer a range of play experiences to children of varying abilities. As important as this development was for providing access for differently-abled individuals, it does not require a playground to provide equipment that truly inclusive. A 2014 survey (tinyurl.com/ 5urhpsbp) conducted by a playground manufacturer found that more than half (57 percent) of the people 34 Parks & Recreation | O CTOBER 2 0 2 1 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G Accessible playgrounds allow people with disabilities to visit the play area, whereas fully inclusive playgrounds provide the opportunity for everyone to actually use and interact with the playground equipment. PHOTOS BY AJ WALTZhttps://www.tinyurl.com/3xys4j3s http://www.tinyurl.com/5urhpsbp http://www.tinyurl.com/5urhpsbp