COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Tuesday, May 07, 2019

QUESTION NO. 8

QUESTION: Councillor D. Looney

To ask the Chief Executive to provide a report on accessible equipment at playspaces installed in 2019 by SDCC; to ask him if it is planned to provide more accessible equipment suitable for children of all abilities at more Council playspaces and playgrounds; and to make a statement on the matter.

REPLY:

South Dublin County Council is committed to access and equality, SDCC adopted the Barcelona Declaration in June 2002. This EU-wide Declaration advocates the right of disabled people to equal opportunities, inclusiveness and integration. SDCC has been actively implementing the Declaration ever since through various actions and access initiatives. The extensive access works and initiatives which SDCC have undertaken over the past 15 years in particular have been focused on removing the barriers that create disability and exclusion in order to create an Accessible South Dublin County.

As part of the delivery of the Playspace Programme SDCC consulted with the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design and a universal design approach has been taken which recognises the diversity of the population and ensures that our playgrounds can be used by everyone.

Universal design places human diversity at the heart of the design process so that environments can be designed to meet the needs of all users. It therefore covers all persons regardless of their age or size and those who have any particular physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual ability or disability. It is about achieving good design so that people can access, use and understand the environment to the greatest extent and in the most independent and natural manner possible, without the need for adaptations or specialised solutions.

Much of the universal design is invisible to users and concerns things like siting the playgrounds in easy to reach places, having level entry points, having clear well placed signage and having easy to use equipment. Considerations such as distance from car parking, access to the playground from surrounding areas and are aware that it may be the carer and not just the child who may have reduced mobility or any other disability.

Part of the brief for every playspace, including those recently completed in 2019, includes meeting the 7 principles of universal design listed below.

Principles of Universal Design

Principle

Built Environment Example

1. Equitable Use: How well does the building, place or project appear to be fully usable, and appealing to a wide range of diverse users with differing ages and personal capabilities?

Is there the same means of use for all users whenever possible, avoiding segregation – for example play equipment that everyone regardless of age, size, ability or disability can use with ease?

2. Flexibility in Use: How well does the design readily adapt or offer multiple methods of use to enable a wide range of individual preferences and abilities?

Does the Playground provide choice in methods of use, for example play equipment and the surrounding spaces designed to accommodate children of different heights, those with mobility difficulties, those who lip-read & those with visual difficulties?

3. Simple and Intuitive Use: How well does the design make it simple for diverse users to understand the important features of the building, place or project?

For example, is it easy to use the Playground & the play equipment for the first time?

4. Perceptible Information: (Sensory abilities, e.g. vision, hearing, touch). How well does the design offer multiple use options for people, especially those with sensory limitations at any age and including the use of specialty equipment or strategies?

For example, does the use of colour and materials provide visual contrast and/or tactile information to allow all children & adults regardless of age, size, ability or disability to navigate the Playground with ease?

5. Tolerance for Error: (Features that promote safe use and reduce risk). How well does the design prompt or assist the user to minimize hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintentional interactions?

For example, is the play equipment designed with easy access, well-designed handrails and good use of materials, finishes and colours?

6. Low Physical Effort: How well does the design enable all users, including those with limited strength and stamina, to have a comfortable and effective user experience?

For example, is the various play equipment provided easy to use for all children & adults regardless of age, size, ability or disability?

7. Size and Space for Approach and Use:  (Efficient access and use for all user sizes) How well does the design enable users of diverse size, (including people who may use specialty equipment) to use the building, place or project?

For example, are the spaces in the Playground designed with sufficient dimensions to allow all children & adults regardless of age, size, ability or disability to circulate and use the Playground with ease?

With regard to wheelchair accessible swings in particular SDCC have investigated what is available on the market. All of the swings investigated to date have to be used under supervision and have to be segregated from other playground users with some type of fencing.  They are invariably large metal structures which have the potential to cause injury.  The swings need to be locked until needed and then locked again once the child has finished using it.  For this reason these swings are principally designed for facilities designed to meet the needs of wheelchair users and are not ideally suited for siting in public spaces.  We are aware of a number of public playgrounds in Ireland where these swings have been used but as they are segregated in those playgrounds they draw excessive, often unwanted attention, to those children using them and are therefore not very popular.

SDCC aims to have inclusive equipment rather than exclusive provision.  To allow for universal access to swings we install equipment such as basket swings or accessible swing seats which are suitable for wheelchair users and all other children.  We also have trampolines, spinners, slides, diggers which are wheelchair accessible and equal access is provided to natural play facilities and to imaginative play items. The recently installed sensory mud pit in Tymon Park has been lauded by visitors as particularly beneficial for children with sensory processing disorders. The placement of sand tables etc. at Limekiln is carefully considered as is the inclusion of the multi-use swing.  The position of the play equipment at Bancroft Park is along the existing hard surfaced footpath through the park, which facilitates ease of use and universal access. Waterstown Park and Willsbrook Park have sand pits which allow for universal access and facilitate access to equipment from the adjacent access point. Willsbrook Park, Bancroft Park and Griffeen Park also contain a variety of different elements such as wide slides, accessible trampolines, spinning discs, basket swings, and sand diggers. Some of the climbing units at these locations also contain nets which enhance accessibility.

SDCC have sought specialist advice on several occasions when designing playspaces and when analysing tenders and awarding contracts.  We are currently in discussion with Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland with regard to wheelchair accessible playgrounds.  They are consulting with their members all around the country and are going to report back to us on their findings.  We will be working closely with them in designing play facilities, including the refurbishment of Corkagh Park Playground.

The council is open to suggestions on how to improve accessibility in our playgrounds; and have received and implemented several innovative solutions from wheelchair users over the past few years. Post-construction accessibility audits have been carried out on several of our built playspaces. These audits have proved invaluable as a learning tool and have allowed us to incorporate changes into existing playgrounds and build these improvements into future playgrounds as well.