Making play inclusive – Westminster’s first fully accessible playground opened in Westbourne Ward

Local community members, schools and children were invited to celebrate the official launch of the playground and try out the exciting new equipment designed by award-winning playgrounds experts Playscheme.

The playground’s renovation aims to revitalise a community space, enhance wellbeing and encourage an active lifestyle by addressing barriers to outdoor play.

It was co-designed with local schools, parents and children to create a space that reflects the community’s needs. By collaborating with residents, the council has revived the old playground into something fresh and exciting where children of all abilities can have fun, learn and grow together. The £162k refurb combines both traditional and innovative technology to create an inclusive playground that can be enjoyed by all.

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Gracie, a young person who was involved in the consultation, helped to design some of the playground equipment with wheelchair users in mind. The playground was designed so that wheelchairs can fit under the climbing frame area where children often engage in imaginative play. Other features of the playground include an inclusive Whirl Spinner which is built at ground level to allow for easy boarding and has seating as well as wheelchair space, and an inclusive swing seat to ensure safety and comfort when swinging.

Gracie said:

“It was important to be part of the design because most playgrounds don’t have anything that kids who are in wheelchairs can play with.”

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Sara, a local parent who brought this initiative to the council’s attention, said:

“As a parent of a child with complex needs, I am deeply committed to the idea that every child has the right to play, socialise, and learn together.  While we have made significant progress in embracing diversity across various backgrounds, including ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation, individuals with disabilities often remain overlooked and undervalued within these discussions.

To effect real change in our attitudes and behaviours towards people with disabilities, we must focus on shifting perceptions.  The best way to achieve this is by allowing children to interact with and learn from these differences, helping them realise that our shared experiences far outweigh our distinctions.

I take pride in being a resident of Westminster, a London borough that actively champions community initiatives to enhance the lives of all its residents.”

Assistant head teacher and Year 6 teacher at Edward Wilson Primary School, Rafaella Bertollini said:

“This is an incredible opportunity for the children because pupils from Edward Wilson Primary School participated in the consultation and in shaping the design of the playground. This is an amazing opportunity for them to see the completed refurbishment of the playground. It is also very insightful for them as it is the first playground that they have seen designed with children with disabilities in mind.

It’s interesting to see how they enjoy the playground and understand the purpose of these facilities like this bench which allows children in a wheelchair to sit and join other children.”

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A student at Edward Wilson Primary School who was at the opening said:

“I think this playground is really important and its really amazing how they’ve been able to upgrade it like this as I’ve come past here before and never seen any children playing here. But seeing this wild improvement is amazing.”

Another student from Edward Wilson Primary School who was at the opening said:

“I really think that this playground is accessible with the communication board. The stairs on the climbing frame are good for everyone of all abilities. Some climbing frames have ladders or ropes, and some people can’t really climb so it’s easy for them to walk up the stairs and there’s lots of entrances to it. I think it’s amazing.”

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Head teacher at Portman Nursey School and Church Street Family Hub, Annie Curtis said:

“In terms of the consultation, it was asking me and nursery parents in particular, what are the biggest barriers when you access a local space? What means that your neurotypical child can play and your child with additional needs has to sit on the sidelines?

This is a really big step in change around inclusivity and people having conscious thought about people as individuals and how we make spaces accessible.”

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Voluntary Sector, Cllr Nafsika Butler-Thalassis said:

“I'm so pleased that we have renovated the Alfred Road Playground with accessible equipment. This will make it a much more welcoming environment for disabled children and their families and enable all our local children to play together and enjoy themselves.

We know that many families of disabled children feel isolated, as accessing services and spaces is not straightforward and we want to do everything we can to provide play areas that are accessible and inclusive to all."

Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Cara Sanquest said:

“I am delighted that we have launched the first ever accessible playground Westminster, creating a welcoming space where children of all abilities can play and be active. We are pleased to have been able to work with local parents and children throughout the entire process of renovating the playground, and hope that local children and families will really enjoy this new facility.”