TAMRMS#: B06
6.1
Information Item Only
title
Inclusive & Accessible Playground Strategy
Presented by: Manda Wilde, Supervisor, Parks Planning & Stewardship, Recreation & Parks
body
SUMMARY
This report provides an overview of the attached draft Inclusive & Accessible Playground Strategy (Strategy). The Strategy:
• provides a service provision approach (e.g., where, when, to what extent) for providing equitable access to inclusive playground opportunities,
• identifies opportunities to improve asset data and public information on accessible and inclusive playgrounds, and
• includes recommendations to redevelop existing playgrounds and create new playgrounds within key growth areas that fall under the established criteria.
Both the service levels and recommendations consider a range of factors, such as geography, demographics, variety of play experiences, and fiscal responsibility.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
On July 2, 2024, Council passed the following motion:
CM-24-013
That the City of St. Albert complete a "Accessible and Inclusive Playground Strategy" funded from the Stabilization Reserve in the amount $120,000 with the work to be completed and reported back to City Council by Q2 2025.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Policy, Standards, and Guidelines
There is no single standard for developing inclusive and accessible playgrounds. Currently, all municipal playground development is guided by city, provincial, and federal policies, standards, and guidelines, such as:
• Parks and Open Spaces Standards and Guidelines,
• Municipal Development Plan (2021),
• Municipal Engineering Standards (2021),
• Universal Access Plan, and
• Canadian Standards Association Playground Safety Standards: Annex H.
The Strategy is informed by these key documents and other leading practices, including alignment to the corporate IDEA strategy which is currently in development.
Playground Inventory
St. Albert has 67 City-owned playgrounds. The playgrounds provide a variety of play experiences for children 18 months to 12 years of age and, in consideration of park classifications and supporting amenities, vary in size and play features.
Two of these playgrounds are identified as inclusive (Fountain Park, Lodgepole at Lacombe Lake Park). Many others have some elements of inclusivity and/or accessibility, including partial or complete accessible play surfacing.
Under the terms of the Reciprocal Use Agreement, school playgrounds are available to the public. While the City works closely with school parent groups to design and build playgrounds that align with City standards and guidelines, 19 school playgrounds fall outside of municipal ownership and have not been included in this study. However, the best practices contained in the Strategy can be used to support decision-making by schools.
Strategy Development
The Strategy was developed by:
• researching best practices related to inclusive playground site design;
• engaging with experts and caregivers of children with disabilities;
• completing a cross-jurisdictional scan of accessible and inclusive play provisions across the region and comparable municipalities; and
• analyzing the current provision of playgrounds, looking at a variety of factors including current and future distribution, state of current data, access to playgrounds via active modes of transportation, onsite parking and washroom availability, and financial feasibility.
Strategy Structure
The Strategy:
• adopts a service provision approach for inclusive playgrounds (e.g., where, when, to what extent) that can be applied across the existing and future network of municipal parks and playgrounds,
• provides recommendations for supporting administrative initiatives that enhance communication and user experience, and
• supports understanding of costing and prioritization related to improving playground inclusivity.
Design for Accessibility and Inclusivity
The core principles of diversity, inclusion, and accessibility are aligned with corporate direction but speak specifically to the context of play and playgrounds (see p. 14 of attachment for more details).
In applying these principles to our park system, the Strategy considers three basic questions:
Can I Get There?
• The more ways a person may travel to, access, and move within the playground itself, the more inclusive a playground is.
Can I Play?
• The more types of play included in a playground design and the more variety in the play components provided, the more needs a playground can meet.
Can I Stay?
• Children with complex needs may have different requirements to enable them to play comfortably and for longer periods of time. Supportive elements, such as washroom availability, fencing, shade, or parking, may determine whether individuals are able to stay and play comfortably.
Recommendations
The Strategy outlines three recommendations to improve and standardize our approach to providing a network of playgrounds that all residents can get to, play in, and stay at.
Recommendation 1: Update existing City data and asset inventory to capture accessible and inclusive play features. This recommendation can be implemented as standard administrative practices through existing resources moving forward.
Recommendation 2: Invest in communicating both where accessible and inclusive playgrounds are located and what kind of opportunities can be expected. This recommendation can be implemented through existing practices and resources moving forward.
Recommendation 3: Build a playground network using the following playground types:
• Generalized Playgrounds: Form most of the playground network. They are generally found in Neighbourhood Parks and serve a more localized audience. Accessibility and inclusive elements are considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Accessible Playgrounds: These playgrounds serve a wider audience. Generally located in Community Parks, they include: a minimum size, required diversity of play types, and a specified catchment area. In addition, at least half of each playground must have accessible surfacing and offer a diversity of play components accessible through ground access, ramps, and/or transfer stations.
• Inclusive Playgrounds: Provide the highest level of inclusivity and accessibility. Located in specific City Park locations, these large playgrounds have fully accessible surfacing throughout, a wide mix of ground level and elevated accessible play components, and supportive amenities that enable extended stays including washrooms, shade, and accessible parking.
• Specialized: Intended to meet a specific outcome but is not required to meet any specific criteria. Examples include nature-based play and outdoor fitness opportunities.
Importantly, while each playground type has specified minimums, best practices for inclusion, accessibility, and diversity will be applied to all playgrounds to the greatest extent possible.
Implementation
Applying Recommendation 3 to our existing and planned playground network, we have identified a 15-to-20-year plan that includes the following capital initiatives (see p. 38 of attachment for detailed changes and mapping):
• Replacement of nine existing playgrounds to meet or continue to meet accessible playground criteria.
• Replacement of three existing playgrounds to meet inclusive playground criteria.
• Development of three new accessible playgrounds in growth areas.
• Development of one new inclusive playground in a growth area.
Financial Implications
The financial impacts of this Strategy will largely be captured in charters:
• RECR-025 Parks and Outdoor Amenities - RMR Charter
• RECR-049 New Neighbourhood Parks - Growth Charter
Work on the identified playgrounds under current development standards and practices is estimated at $6.3M. In alignment with the Strategy, this cost is estimated to increase by $2.0M. Actual costs will be refined based on the site requirements at the time of construction. This cost would be included in Growth and RMR charters and phased in through normal planning and lifecycle of playgrounds (estimated at 15-20 years).
Costing estimates include considerations specifically related to improving playground and site conditions specific to the playground type (e.g., trail connections, accessible seating) but do not include any large-scale site improvements (e.g., parking area expansions, washroom development). Existing sites identified as inclusive playgrounds already had these amenities in place.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
Building on public engagement held for the Lodgepole Playground, the project team utilized a targeted stakeholder approach, focusing on organizations working with children with disabilities and inclusive playground suppliers and seeking feedback from caregivers and parents of children with disabilities. Despite extensive outreach, response to engagement was limited; however, general themes from those who participated included:
• Importance of different modifications to playground design depending on the needs of the child - no one playground will meet the needs of all children.
• Preference for consolidated sites that provide meaningful play with supportive amenities (e.g., parking, washrooms, diversity in play equipment, etc.) instead of more widespread but smaller or less well-supported playgrounds.
Future engagement on playground design and features will be conducted with communities for each specific playground replacement or development, aligned to current practice.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
Initiative aligned with Strategic Plan: Not Applicable
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
Service: A.1.5 Recreation and Sport Amenities
Description: Ensure the provision of scheduled and spontaneous use of recreation amenities for community users in a safe and comfortable environment.
body
Report Date: July 8, 2025
Author(s): Manda Wilde, Supervisor, Parks Planning & Stewardship, and Corrina Kulych, Parks & Facility Planning Specialist
Department: Recreation & Parks
Department Director: Daniele Podlubny
Managing Director: Dinu Alex
Chief Administrative Officer: Bill Fletcher