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ADA Compliant Playground Surfaces

In 2010, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) changed how public playgrounds are designed by requiring them to include play opportunities for children of all abilities. From this point on schools, childcare centers, and municipalities needed to include ramps and other barrier-free travel routes, a variety of accessible play options and appropriate safety surfacing beneath equipment.

 

ADA Compliance & Accessibility

Winners

While all unitary surfaces are significantly more accessible and inclusive than loose-fill surfaces, poured-in-place rubber is probably the most wheelchair accessible while synthetic turf earns high marks for its comfort.  Rubber tiles and bonded rubber surfacing can cause some issues for wheelchair tires since they can get stuck in the cracks between rubber tiles and the sponginess of bonded rubber can cause mobility issues.

poured-in-place rubber for accessibility
Poured-in-Place Rubber

Poured-in-Place rubber is arguably the most accessible playground surfacing material as its smooth, even easily support wheelchairs and other mobility aids. It is also typically designed with smooth edges and gentle slopes that allow for easy transitions throughout the entire playground area. 

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synthetic turf for accessibility
Synthetic Turf

While turf surfacing is not as smooth as poured-in-place rubber, it is still easy to operate most wheelchairs on it and has the added benefits of being very slip-resistant and soft.

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Wheelchair Accessible Playground Surfacing
ADA Compliance & Accessibility

Losers

While EWF and rubber mulch typically comply with ADA standards, there is little debate as to how friendly these surfacing options are for children that rely on wheelchairs or other mobility devices.   Material displacement can create unstable surfaces that are difficult to maneuver on and limit accessibility to playground equipment.  Pea gravel and sand are not ADA compliant materials and should not be used on public playgrounds.

wood mulch - not ideal for accessibility
Rubber Mulch
engineered wood fiber mulch - not ideal for accessibility
Engineered Wood Fiber Mulch
Non-inclusive playground surfacing

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