COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE/FIRHOUSE/BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

MOTION NO. 9

MOTION: Councillor Carly Bailey

That this local area committee requests that suitable play facilities and wheelchair access are provided at the very earliest convenience to ensure that younger children and children with disabilities are able to participate and play along side their siblings and friends at the recently opened and very successful new play space at the Limekiln Road entrance of Tymon Park. 

REPORT:

Play is recognised as a vital activity for healthy child development and the aim of the Playspace Programme is to deliver play facilities to children close to where they live and therefore increase their opportunities for play and activity every day.  As well as contributing to better physical and mental health for children the playspaces have taken on a significance in terms of becoming focal points and meeting places for local communities.  The playground at Limekiln hosts young people who use the equipment before and after school and at weekends and the area has also led to social interaction of parents, grandparents and groups of neighbours. The equipment is laid out along the path in order to encourage people to move from piece to piece. For younger children the sand tables provide an opportunity for imaginative and constructive play. The big swing and climbing frames are ideal for older children who want to engage in more robust play experiences. The playspace has avoided the use of plastics where possible and used locally or sustainably sourced materials.

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 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?

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.  Equal access is provided to natural play facilities and to imaginative play items. The recently installed sand play area at Limekiln is particularly beneficial for children with sensory processing disorders and setting it on tables makes it more accessible. The placement of the sand tables etc. at Limekiln was carefully considered as is the inclusion of the multi-use swing. The climbing unit also contain nets which enhance accessibility, and the surfacing used is also accessible and provides the necessary impact absorption.

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.

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.