Play_Park_Strategy_2021-2030

Ease of use / comfort: The fourth level of consideration is the level of comfort. The need to address comfort within a play park extends beyond the actual considerations for the play activities themselves. Considering comfort requires being mindful of minimising the effort required by children with special needs for functional tasks such as moving into, around and between play park activities. Addressing these four levels of consideration must be comprehensively incorporated into the design of a play park to ensure every opportunity for social inclusion, individual control, movement and competence, has been recognised and supported. 48 Adults with disability and older people with dementia The Council also realises the important role that play parks have for both adults with disabilities and elderly people with dementia. Play parks can offer an opportunity for these people and their respective carers to experience both the outdoors and respite from their condition. Suitable seating and sensory facilities shall be designed where possible to accommodate the needs of these individuals and group visits. Intellectual accessible design: The third consideration is intellectual accessibility. Addressing this level of accessibility principally means being aware of the intelligibility or ability of items, to provide levels of interest of a play park as a whole as well as the intelligibility of any particular activity. Intellectual accessibility must work closely with physical accessibility. Teenagers and young adults While this strategy focuses on the provision of play parks for children, the Council recognises the importance of providing facilities for teenagers and young adults. The district has generally a good culture in providing team-based activities for teenagers and young adults, however, it has been recognised that for some within this age group there is no interest in such activities. Spaces for teenagers and young adults can be identified and developed in such a way as to suggest some adult intervention without necessarily trying to make full provision that may be inappropriate or unwanted.