A Scoping Review of Evidence-Informed Recommendations for Designing Inclusive Playgrounds.
Denver M Y Brown, Timothy Ross, Jennifer Leo and 4 others
PMID 36188796WHAT IT FOUND
Thirteen design recommendations emerged from 35 studies, including flat surfaces, ramps to elevated structures, and sensory variety.
Trained staff and involving families in the design process were also key to reducing barriers for children with disabilities.
Key findings
01The review identified 13 evidence-informed recommendations and one promising practice for designing inclusive playgrounds.
02Recommendations cover entry points, surfacing, inclusive features, staffing, and the design process, emphasizing that physical design alone is insufficient without social support.
03Trained staff presence and the involvement of families and therapists in the design process were highlighted as critical for inclusion, beyond just equipment accessibility.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The search was limited to English-language publications, potentially missing relevant studies from non-English speaking countries. Only studies published after 1990 were included, which may exclude earlier foundational work. The quality of the included studies was not appraised, consistent with scoping review methodology, meaning bias in the source studies cannot be ruled out. Most included studies were conducted in high-income countries, which may limit the applicability of recommendations to low-resource settings. The review excluded clinical suggestion papers and white papers, focusing only on empirical peer-reviewed studies.
Declared interests
The authors declare no commercial or financial conflicts of interest. The research was supported by Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these recommendations as proven interventions that guarantee improved health outcomes. This is a scoping review of design features, not a clinical trial; it identifies what experts and users suggest, not what has been rigorously tested for efficacy.