New All Abilities Playgrounds

New All Abilities Playground Plans Underway for 2014 Completion 

Planning is already underway for the $2 Million playground to be built in the City Botanical Gardens. It will replace the existing playground and is being designed with the objective to enable children of all ages and all abilities to play together without limitations. 

Since 2007 the Queensland Government has allocated $4.6 million in project grants local councils across the state to develop 16 all abilities play spaces in collaboration with local communities, Disability Services and industry specialists.

This initiative for the CBD Botanical Gardens playground was put forward by the Lord Mayer Graham Quirk and is part of a new Access and Inclusion Plan that the council is working on.
``I want to see Brisbane become a city where children of all ages and abilities can play together at their suburban park in clean and safe environments.’’ Cr Quirk said. 

Developments to this CBD based playground of 25 other playgrounds around Brisbane include new accessible toilets, pathways and additional seating to encourage Parents, Grandparents, Carers and families to join in with other members of the community without concern of exclusion or limitations.

Families and various organizations throughout Brisbane hugely supportive of the developments and the opportunities it opens up for children and families who live with disabilities. The Spinal Injuries Association in particular welcomes the developments that will "open up an area in the city accessible to many families through public transport".

"From the work done in recent years by playground designers, access consultants and local government, all abilities playgrounds have progressed to become vibrant, colourful locations with an array of ingenious, stimulating, yet safe, pieces of playground equipment that can be used by children of varying ages and capacity" the Spinal Association said in a statement. 

To find out if there is an all abilities playground in your area and for other information of community inclusion for children and families living with disabilities visit the Queensland Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services website.

Schemes and initiatives such as this are vital to the development of all children, their social skills and community awareness. They enable children with disabilities to play outdoors with their friends and siblings,  provide opportunity for parents and carers to relax and talk with other parents and carers and they are a safe and free community asset that will enhance the health, well-being and learning of all children.