Design Playgrounds That Include Every Child: The Inclusive Playground Design Toolkit
A practical, research-backed guide designed to help decision-makers plan, evaluate, and design inclusive playgrounds that go beyond compliance and support every child.
Research-backed frameworks built on the 7 Principles of Inclusive Playground Design™
Practical planning tools aligned with CSA-Z614 and Annex H standards
Strategies to support cognitive, sensory, social, emotional, and physical development
Real-world examples to help you move beyond minimum compliance to meaningful inclusion
Get the Free Inclusive Playground Design Toolkit
From the team behind 5,270+ playground and park projects nationwide.
WHAT’S INSIDE THE TOOLKIT
What’s Included in the Inclusive Playground Design Toolkit
This toolkit is designed to help you move beyond minimum accessibility standards and build play spaces that truly support participation, dignity, and belonging. Inside, you’ll find research-backed frameworks, practical planning tools, and real-world examples that show how inclusive playground design can support the whole child—cognitively, socially, emotionally, physically, and sensorially.
Whether you’re evaluating an existing space or planning a new project, this guide will give you clarity, confidence, and a structured path forward.
What Inclusive Design Really Means
Move beyond ramps and surface access. Learn how inclusion supports participation, belonging, dignity, and developmental growth.

The Research & Realities Behind Inclusion
Understand why sensory, social, and cognitive play matter — and how inclusive design strengthens entire communities.
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The 7 Principles of Inclusive Playground Design™
Explore the nationally recognized framework that ensures your playground is fair, independent, smart, included, comfortable, active, and safe.

Whole-Child Development Framework
See how playground features can intentionally support cognitive, communication, social-emotional, sensory, and physical development.

Sensory Playground Design Essentials
Discover the often-missed elements that help neurodivergent children regulate, engage, and thrive.

Planning Checklist & Design Matrix
Use our Inclusive Design Planning Checklist and Essentials Matrix to evaluate your current playground or guide a new project.
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Who This Toolkit is For
Designed For
This toolkit is designed for:
- Municipal parks and recreation departments
- School boards, school administrators, and independent schools
- Community groups and non-profit organizations planning public play spaces
- Landscape architects and urban planners
- First Nations communities
Not Intended For
This toolkit is not intended for:
- Private homeowners
- Backyard or residential playground projects
- Consumer-grade play equipment planning
Whether you’re in early planning or actively in the design phase, this toolkit helps you move forward with clarity and confidence.
WHY PARK N PLAY DESIGN
Why We Created This Toolkit
Most playgrounds in Canada meet basic safety requirements, but very few are intentionally designed for meaningful inclusion.
We created this toolkit to help communities move beyond compliance and toward purposeful, research-informed design. Our goal is to equip decision-makers with the clarity and structure needed to create play environments that reflect the diversity of their communities—spaces that foster independence, social connection, developmental growth, and a true sense of belonging for every child.
Over 5,270 projects. 20+ years. Certified Inclusive Design Educators.
This is not theory. It’s field-tested practice.

Testimonials
Trusted by Organizations Just Like Yours to Deliver Inclusive Spaces Across Canada
Let’s Build a Playground That Reflects Your Community
Download the Inclusive Playground Design Toolkit
Start designing play spaces that support belonging, dignity, and development for every child.