Accessible Play Areas - A Summary of Accessibility Guidelines for Play Areas

Introduction

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a comprehensive civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. The ADA requires that newly constructed and altered state and local government facilities, places of public accommodation, and commercial facilities be readily accessible to, and usable by, individuals with disabilities. Recreational facilities, including play areas, are among the facilities required to comply with the ADA.

The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board - often referred to as the "Access Board" - has developed accessibility guidelines for newly constructed and altered play areas. The play area guidelines are a supplement to the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). Once these guidelines are adopted as enforceable standards by the Department of Justice, all newly constructed and altered play areas covered by the ADA will be required to comply. These guidelines also apply to play areas covered by the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA).

Summary

This guide is intended to help designers and operators in using the accessibility guidelines for play areas. These guidelines establish minimum accessibility requirements for newly constructed and altered play areas. This guide is not a collection of playground designs. Rather, it provides specifications for elements within a play area to create a general level of usability for children with disabilities. Emphasis is placed on ensuring that children with disabilities are generally able to access the diversity of components provided in a play area. Designers and operators are encouraged to exceed the guidelines where possible to provide increased accessibility and opportunities. Incorporating accessibility into the design of a play area should begin early in the planning process with consideration to layout, circulation paths, and the selection of play components. 

The play area guidelines were developed with significant public input and carefully considered the balancing of costs, safety, and accessibility. The Access Board sponsored a Regulatory Negotiation Committee to develop proposed guidelines. The public was given an opportunity to comment on the proposed guidelines and the Access Board made changes to the proposed guidelines based on the public comments. The Regulatory Negotiation Committee represented the following groups and associations:

• American Society of Landscape Architects
• ASTM Public Playground Committee
• ASTM Soft Contained Play Committee
• ASTM Playground Surfacing Systems Committee
• International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association
• National Association of Counties
• National Association of Elementary School Principals
• National Child Care Association
• National Council on Independent Living
• National Easter Seal Society
• National League of Cities
• National Parent-Teacher Association
• National Recreation and Park Association
• Spina Bifida Association of America
• TASH
• United Cerebral Palsy Association
• U.S. Access Board

This guide is designed to assist in using the play area accessibility guidelines and is divided into the following sections:

• Where Do the Play Area Guidelines Apply?
• What is a Play Component?
• How Many Play Components Must Be on an Accessible Route?
• What Are the Requirements for Accessible Routes?
• What Other Accessibility Requirements Apply to Play Components?
• Soft Contained Play Structures

Further Information

Technical assistance on the play area accessibility guidelines is available from the U.S. Access Board at 800-872-2253, 800-993-2822 (TTY), pubs@access-board.gov This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  

Acknowledgments

The Access Board would like to thank the following manufacturers for their generous assistance: Bob Leathers, Columbia Cascade, GameTime, KOMPAN, Landscape Structures, Little Tikes, Miracle, Olympic Recreation, Playworld Systems, and Recreation Creations.   This manual was developed in part through a contract with KOMPAN, Inc., 50 Commercial Drive, Johnson City, New York 13790.