Does play-based experience provide for inclusiveness? A case study of multi-dimensional indicators.

Area of Science:

• Urban Planning and Design
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Outdoor playgrounds serve as vital public spaces offering diverse experiences.
• Inclusiveness, encompassing physical and social access for all children, is a key attribute.
• Recent global events have heightened the importance of inclusive public spaces like playgrounds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the inclusiveness of play-based experiences in a San Antonio, Texas playground.
• To evaluate social and physical accessibility for diverse users, including age, gender, ethnicity, and disability.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods approach utilizing observational studies and behavior mapping.
• Secondary data analysis for spatial mapping.
• User perception surveys to understand playground inclusivity.

Main Results:

• The study assessed user diversity across age, gender, ethnicity, and disability.
• Analysis focused on evaluating both social and physical accessibility within the playground.
• Findings indicate a need for further research and proposed improvements for playground inclusivity.

Conclusions:

• Collaboration among urban designers, planners, and policymakers is essential.
• Efforts are needed to eliminate social and physical disparities in playgrounds.
• Enhancing playground inclusivity benefits all children and communities.