About the Queensland All Abilities Playground Project
Play is of fundamental importance to children's health, wellbeing and learning. Play area with large shade sail. Pioneer Park's play cottage.
The Queensland Government is committed to ensuring that all children, including those with a disability, have equal access to playgrounds so they can learn, grow and develop during play.
The government's Queensland All Abilities Playground Project — enabling participation in play — recognises the pivotal role that play has in the lives of young Queenslanders.
In September 2007, the former Disability Services Queensland (DSQ) allocated $4.6 million in project grants to local councils across the state to develop 16 all abilities play spaces in collaboration with local communities, Disability Services and industry specialists. [Read media release]
All abilities playgrounds are places where children of all ages and abilities can experience fun and challenging play alongside their friends and family members.
These recreational spaces inherently use a range of natural and built environments to encourage different types of play, such as active, exploratory and social play, and apply innovative approaches in design to breakdown barriers for children with a disability.
Playgrounds developed as part of the Queensland All Abilities Playground Project build on the success of the state's first all abilities playground at Pioneer Park on the Sunshine Coast.
The participatory design method used in the creation of the play spaces seeks to actively involve playground users from the community in all aspects of the design process, including planning, design development and construction.
Involving children with disabilities and their families in the design process enables them to have a voice and exercise control over how their needs are addressed in their local playground's design.
Why have an all abilities playground in your community?
- They are socially responsive to the needs of all children and families in your community.
- They enable children with disabilities to play outdoors with their friends and siblings.
- They provide opportunity for parents and carers to relax and talk with other parents and carers, which leads to the development of relationships and networks that can strengthen communities and promote social inclusion.
- They are a safe and free community asset that will enhance the health, wellbeing and learning of all children.
Project objectives
The project seeks to create 16 all abilities playgrounds across the state that:
- are innovative and creative solutions to supporting the development and wellbeing of all children
- strengthen families by establishing a safe and free community resource that enables families to relax and enjoy respite
- value the importance of community involvement in the decision-making and planning process of each unique site through the application of a user participation design framework. This will enable families, children and the broader community to develop a sense of ownership and connectedness with the playgrounds.
Project timeframes
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| March–April 2007 | Expression of Interest (EOI) process opens for the Queensland All Abilities Playground Project. All Queensland local governments were provided with fact sheets in March, followed by information kits, containing EOI forms, in April. |
| 31 May 2007 | EOI submissions close. |
| June–August 2007 | Selection panel review EOI submissions and recommend projects, and associated funding allocations, to the Minister for approval. |
| September 2007 | Minister announces 16 successful local government projects and funding allocations. |
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| October 2007 | Local governments start to implement the project's Design Framework. |
| October 2007–End of 2009/10 Financial Year |
The planning, design and construction of all playgrounds is expected to be completed by the end of the 2009/10 Financial Year. Project timelines vary significantly between locations and are subject to Wet Season and other environmental impacts. Playground openings started with the official opening of the Mount Isa Family Fun Park on 5 June 2009. |
Last reviewed: 14 August 2009