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Deutsch (Österreich) Inclusive Playground
An inclusive playground enables children with and without disabilities to play together and learn from one another. It promotes social participation and helps to break down barriers – both physical and social.
The Benefits of an Inclusive Playground
Promotes joint play and inclusion of children with different abilities
Meets key requirements for accessibility and safety
Enhances the attractiveness of public spaces and creates added value for municipalities
Supports social integration and sustainable urban development
What Makes an Inclusive Playground?
An inclusive playground is designed so that all children – regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities – have access and can enjoy play opportunities.
Accessibility plays a central role: paths, entrances, and play areas must be designed so that wheelchair users, children with walking aids, or parents with strollers can use the facilities without obstacles.
Equally important are play elements that stimulate different senses and promote motor and cognitive skills.
Checkliste für einen Inklusionsspielplatz
Diese Checkliste fasst die wichtigsten Kriterien zusammen, um einen Spielplatz inklusiv, barrierefrei und behindertengerecht zu gestalten. Sie ist angelehnt an die Ergebnisse der Studie zu inklusiven Spielplätzen. Ihre ausgefüllte Checkliste können Sie anschließend kostenfrei herunterladen.
Checkliste für einen inklusiven Spielplatz
Inclusive Play Equipment and Design Options
An accessible playground should combine a variety of equipment and areas that meet different needs. Examples include:
- Swings with safety restraints: provide secure support and allow children with limited mobility to enjoy swinging.
- Wheelchair-accessible carousels: can be accessed directly with a wheelchair and create shared play experiences.
- Tactile and sound play elements: stimulate the senses and offer varied experiences for children with visual or hearing impairments.
- Inclusive see-saw: enables children with and without disabilities to play together and strengthens interaction.
The diversity of inclusive play equipment ensures that every child can find suitable play incentives – whether through movement, sensory experiences, or social play.
The Ideal Safety Surface for Inclusive and Accessible Playgrounds
In addition to accessible entrances and suitable play equipment, the ground surface plays a key role in safety. Especially on inclusive playgrounds that must be accessible to everyone, a high-quality safety surface is essential. Wood chips and sand can provide sufficient shock absorption but make it difficult for wheelchairs or walking aids to move around. Seamless safety surfacing such as PEGASOFT is wheelchair accessible and can be designed flexibly.
Sand Safety Surface
- Widespread use
- Low cost
- Natural material
- Difficult to use with wheelchairs and walking aids
Holzhackschnitzel
- Easy installation
- Natural appearance
- Low cost
- Must be refilled regularly
Jointless Safety Surfacing (PEGASOFT)
- Wheelchair accessible
- Flexible in color and shape design
- Higher initial investment
- Lower long-term maintenance costs
Suitable Surfaces for Inclusive Playgrounds
PEGASTONE Natural Stone Surfacing
- Natural marble stone surfacing
- Seamless & slip-resistant
- Provides tactile and visual contrasts
- Ideally combined with PEGASOFT
- Available in 14 colors
PEGASOFT jointless safety surfaces
- EPDM surfacing
- Tested shock absorption according to DIN EN 1177
- Seamless & barrier-free
- Ideally combined with PEGASTONE
- Available in 28 colors
Plan Your Inclusive Playground with PEGASOFT and PEGASTONE
Inclusive playgrounds require both a firm, accessible pathway and safe fall protection. Our PEGASTONE natural stone surfacing and PEGASOFT safety surfacing provide the ideal combination: PEGASTONE ensures stable, accessible pathways, while PEGASOFT adds safety and design flexibility with colorful shock-absorbing areas. Together, they create barrier-free surfaces with clear tactile and visual contrasts – perfect for modern inclusive playgrounds.
Project Examples of Inclusive Playgrounds
REGENSBURG BRIXEN-PARK
In Regensburg’s Brixen Park, an inclusive playground was created with features such as a wheelchair-accessible see-saw and an under-table sand play station. For safety and accessibility, our seamless PEGASOFT safety surfacing was installed.
MULTI-GENERATION PLAYGROUND GUNZENHAUSEN
The “Place for All" in Gunzenhausen combines play and leisure opportunities for all generations. PEGASOFT was used here to provide a safe and accessible surface for children and adults alike.
INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND MUNICH
One of the first inclusive playgrounds in Germany was modernized in Munich. PEGASOFT safety surfacing was combined with PEGASTONE natural stone surfacing to create seamless pathways with tactile and visual contrasts.
PEGASOFT Colour Designer
Design your own jointless safety surface in just a few steps
Simply mix and match the 28 different coloured granules to create your very own surface. You can view a virtual safety tile in 3D from different perspectives in order to check your results and at the same time evaluate the overall effect of your colour mixture in a real preview.
If your mix is perfect, you can save your PEGASOFT colour mixture in a gallery or conveniently download it as a PDF. Simply contact us via the enquiry function if you have any questions and we will be happy to answer them, provide offers and much more. The application is optimised for desktop computers.
Funding and Financing Inclusive Playgrounds
Building an inclusive playground requires investment. In many municipalities and federal states, funding programs are available that can also be used for inclusive and barrier-free playgrounds. Which programs are available depends on the region and the responsible authority. We therefore recommend contacting your local office early in the planning process.
Tips for application*
- Contact the municipality or funding authority early to clarify eligibility and deadlines
- Provide proof of ownership or sponsorship
- Document child and youth participation – often viewed positively
- Clearly integrate sustainability & accessibility into the concept
- Present maintenance and operating costs transparently
*Please note: These tips are for general guidance only. Funding opportunities vary depending on the municipality – we cannot provide individual funding advice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What distinguishes an inclusive playground from a conventional one?
An inclusive playground ensures accessibility and enables all children to participate – regardless of their abilities. This includes wide and step-free entrances, accessible play equipment, and play opportunities that support motor, sensory, and social development.
Which standards are important when planning an inclusive playground?
Key standards are DIN EN 1176 (playground equipment safety) and DIN EN 1177 (impact-absorbing playground surfacing). They define the safety requirements for equipment as well as for ground surfaces.
Why is the right ground surface especially important for inclusive playgrounds?
An inclusive playground requires accessible, safe, and clearly identifiable surfaces. The ground must provide both mobility and fall protection, while also supporting orientation. Our PEGASTONE natural stone surfacing provides firm pathways, while PEGASOFT safety surfacing ensures safety and design flexibility.
How can municipalities finance an inclusive playground?
Costs for planning and construction can be significantly reduced through subsidies and grants. In addition to national and regional programs, some dedicated initiatives also exist. It is important to coordinate closely with the municipality, apply early, and document accessibility and child participation in the project concept.
Further information about:
Inclusive Playgrounds
PEGASOFT jointless safety surfaces
| PEGASOFT jointless safety surfaces | |
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| PEGASOFT Jointless Safety Surfaces Product Brochure
| Download |
Further applications
Vertrieb Elastikprodukte
Marco Kutscheidt
+49 (0) 911 64200-39
marco.kutscheidt@beco-bermueller.de