Creating an Inclusive Playground for Children of All Abilities: West Fork Playground in Cincinnati, Ohio

Abstract

This field report discusses our experiences with the West Fork Park Playground built in Green Township, Ohio. When designing West Fork Playground, we strived for a playground that was versatile, exceeded accessibility guidelines, and was usable by all populations of children. Our overall goal was to develop a playground that meets the principles of universal design, where every child, regardless of ability or disability, is welcomed and benefits physically, developmentally, and socially from the playground environment. The field report describes our prior research, playground equipment specifics, and the overall experience.