The City of London is committed to making its facilities, including parks and playgrounds, accessible to everyone. Since 2001, the Facility Accessibility Design Standards (FADS) have been guiding the construction of new municipal facilities and the upgrade of existing ones, removing and preventing barriers for people with disabilities.
The parks and playgrounds in London are designed with Universal Design and Inclusive Play principles in mind, so that children of all physical and sensory abilities, as well as their caregivers of all ages and abilities, can play together in a shared environment.
There are two levels of playgrounds in London:
- Neighbourhood Park Playgrounds: These small parks are intended for people living within walking distance. They typically include an accessible asphalt pathway to the play area, a depressed curb to access the play area, woodchip safety surfacing, a transfer-station to facilitate access to the play structure, ground-level play components, and park benches with arms, with space beside it for a wheelchair/stroller.
- District Park Playgrounds: These large parks are intended to serve a wider area than their immediate neighbourhood. They are drive-to destinations that can also have spray pads, washrooms, arenas, pools, and sports fields. District Park Playgrounds provide all the basic features listed-above, with the addition of enhanced accessible features such as more play equipment, a separated area for junior (2 to 5 years) and senior (5 to 12 years) play equipment and additional swing area, access to play structure from a ramp or transfer station, or a combination of both, more inclusive play components present, such as accessible swing seats, accessible parking spaces, and accessible picnic tables.
