John Hicks & Associates FIELDWORK INSPECTIONS CONTRACTING |
Play Area Design
The four essential qualities needed when
designing, equipping or modifying a play area are:
1. |
.Some knowledge of the main functions of play as a developmental process. |
2. |
An appreciation of how children’s needs can be addressed in the layout of equipment and ancillary items |
3. |
Awareness of the ‘quality’ of play in the playground environment. |
4. |
Knowledge of the range of abilities of children of different ages and stages of growth, coupled with an awareness of children with disabilities. |
Some things to think about - Some things to do...
| Efforts should be made to retain and utilise existing site features | |
| Ideally every part of the play space and facilities should be accessible to all in ways appropriate to their ages and abilities. | |
| Some of the equipment should present surmountable challenges for all of the children using the site. | |
| The layout of the area should not encourage group ‘ownership’ leading to exclusive or territorial as opposed to integrated play | |
| Quiet areas should be separated from active ones while remaining fully open to view and ready supervision. | |
| Age and ability separation should be backed up by thematic and role division rather than being fenced or in other ways made conspicuously and physically separate. | |
| Seats tables and waste bins should be provided on all locations. | |
| Paved or tarmaced areas should be provided as ‘all weather’ play space catering particularly for ball games, bicycles and wheeled toys. | |
| Separate provision should be made for skateboards and similar items | |
| Raised water and sand play facilities are attractive and interesting for children with a wide range of abilities and should therefore be given some consideration. |
A comprehensive
guide to playground design is incorporated in John Hicks
2000 Children’s Playgrounds – A Guide to the
Management and Design of Children’s Play space. Warwick:
Warwickshire Rural Community Council
John
Hicks & Associates.
A wholly owned subsidiary of JOHN
HICKS LTD.
Registered in England & Wales.
Company Registration No. 4160958
41a Upland
Road, Selly Park, Birmingham. B29 7JS. UK.
Tel: 0121 472
1276. Fax: 0121 471 4839. Mobile: 07762 232646
email: johhicks@lineone.net
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John Hicks Associates: fieldwork, inspections, contracting. Playground inspection services, including outdoor playgrounds and indoor play areas. Parish and district council play facilities, and play areas in pubs, pick-your-own fruit farms, caravan and camping sites, village halls, schools, churchyards and commercial crèches. Play area design.