The Hills District All-Abilities Playground, located within the larger Leslie Patrick Park, is a fully fenced playground with several play areas designed for children of different ages and abilities, including arplay structures specifically designed for children with low or no vision.
The new $500,000 playspace includes a braille trail leading users from each piece of equipment, pavement art, a Jungle Play beehive cubby, a sensory hangout, a vibration post, overhead optic sensory panels and a picnic shelter.
Paths connect to the different elements of the playground, and solid rubberised soft fall makes much of the space accessible for children using wheelchairs. The picnic tables have wheelchair space at the ends, while play equipment is specifically designed for inclusive play, allowing children of all abilities to play alongside each other.
Elements are set at an appropriate height for wheelchair users, the fort has a ramp and the spinner is flush with the ground. There are also two swings with high backrests and hard plastic harnesses.
One particularly useful feature is the accessible toilet located within the fenced playground area. There’s off-street parking and several designated wheelchair-accessible spaces nearby.
It follows extensive consultation with residents, park users with lived experience, and experts from Vision Australia and other specialists including speech pathologists, occupational therapists. It comes as City of Moreton Bay continues to work towards its goal to become Queensland’s most accessible city – developing a new Disability Access and Inclusion Plan and taking practical steps to improve accessibility.
City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said the new elements were an investment in Leslie Patrick Park, a place even more people can now enjoy.
“The popular All Abilities playground at Leslie Patrick Park was the first of its kind in South East Queensland when it opened and we’ve invested in making it even better. This upgrade incorporates the latest elements to make it easier for those with low or no vision to navigate and enjoy the play space. The changes also provide communication and education opportunities as well as sensory play elements and quiet spaces.”
The new addition makes The Hills District All-Abilities Playground an even more welcoming destination for families, with play experiences designed to encourage sensory exploration, interaction and independent play.
Visit Jungle Play via the links below to learn more
