Council’s work to make play areas inclusive

Cheshire West and Chester Council has started working with a social enterprise company created to ensure play areas are inclusive.

The Council has been working with Plan Inclusive Play Areas (PiPA PLAY) to review the Council’s website to provide updated information on inclusive play currently offered at outdoor play areas managed by the Council.  The second part of the work will then look at a selection of outdoor play parks across the borough in terms of opportunities to improve their inclusive play potential.

The following factors will be looked at as part of the play area assessment work: improving entry and exit points at play areas, pathway improvements, surfacing and also feasibility for additional equipment to encourage inclusive play.

Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Councillor Louise Gittins said: “All children deserve a safe play area that works well for them and their families within a reasonable distance from their home.  Working with PiPA PLAY means our play areas will be independently assessed to help make them even more inclusive.

“The Council’s work with PiPA PLAY is unique, in that we are the first local authority to engage on this level, from delivering play area audits to involvement in website content.”

Becky Maddern from PiPA PLAY said: “We are delighted Cheshire West and Chester Council asked PiPA PLAY to support them in ensuring the play parks they manage are accessible and inclusive for all.

“Here at PiPA PLAY our aim is to empower the true meaning of inclusion, equality and diversity in play area design.  As a mum to a child with profound disability, I have first-hand experience of what it feels like to see your child excluded from play parks. My son loves to be swung high on a swing and to go fast down a slide, however very few parks cater for his needs.  Play is fundamental to a child’s development and by creating inclusive and accessible parks we can create an environment where children can play and grow together, because all children and families deserve and have a right to access their local play park.”

This work will also feed into the review of the current Play Strategy (2020-2024), which is to be updated in 2024 and also any future plans for play area investment, including funding applications.

Pictured - Wheelspin Inclusive Play.