Inclusive Playground Equipment

Inclusive Playground Equipment Design and Installation

Pacific Play Systems specializes in the design, supply, and installation of inclusive playground equipment tailored for children of all ages and abilities. We are committed to providing equal access for children with various disabilities, ensuring that our playgrounds maximize ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessibility. Our goal for each project is to create barrier-free, inclusive playgrounds using accessible equipment and surfacing that meet current ADA standards and ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) codes.

Designing Inclusive Playgrounds

When designing ADA-compliant play environments, our expert designers focus on creating barrier-free spaces that encourage interaction and socialization for children of all abilities. From initial design through final installation, we offer top-of-the-line equipment that adheres to the latest ADA and ASTM guidelines. The U.S. Access Board has established specific guidelines to ensure children with disabilities have equal access to play components. For detailed information, please refer to the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines.

ADA Accessible Routes to Play Areas

Our boundary-free design approach starts with the careful placement of accessible routes, ensuring ADA-compliant access to various play components. We utilize wheelchair-accessible surfacing options such as Poured-in-Place (PIP) rubberized surfacing or engineered wood fiber to connect ADA-compliant playground equipment with accessible routes. Properly designed playgrounds will include accessible routes linking play areas to entry points like buildings and parking lots, providing equal access for children of all ages and abilities.

Ground-Level Play Components

Ground-level play components are designed to be approached and exited at the ground level, utilizing accessible surfacing like engineered wood fiber or PIP rubber. Examples include panels, free-standing climbers, spring riders, see-saws, and swings. We recommend incorporating a variety of ground-level components throughout the playground to ensure inclusivity. According to ADA guidelines, at least one of each type of ground-level component should be placed over ADA-accessible surfacing in every accessible playground.

Access to Elevated Components

To ensure ADA accessibility to elevated play components, we use transfer stations or ramps. For structures with fewer than 20 elevated play components, a transfer station is required. For larger structures with more than 20 elevated components, ramps must be provided for wheelchair access. In large structures, transfer stations can be used to access up to 25% of the elevated play components.

ADA Transfer Stations

In modern ADA-compliant play structures, transfer stations facilitate the transition from a wheelchair to elevated play components. Each accessible platform’s rise should not exceed 8 inches. ADA-compliant safety surfacing must connect the transfer station to accessible components such as slides and climbers. Contact Pacific Play Systems for expert installation of inclusive playground equipment designed to meet the highest standards of accessibility and safety.

Ask for your free Playground Consultation

Call us or email to discuss your inclusive Playground Equipment Design and Installation, and get started on your project.

Inclusive Playground Equipment