Glenallen School serves students that have physical disabilities and heath impairments that require paramedical support. As a result, the design of an accessible and inclusive outdoor play space required Jeans Landscape Architects to collaborate closely with school educators, therapists and students to understand their specialized needs. The resulting design offers up numerous lessons for making all play spaces accessible and inclusive.
The physical environment is integrated with the learning programs of the school, and is divided into a number of themed outdoor zones, the themes of which emerged from the collaboration with students and staff. This space is less abstract than some play environments might be, in order to encourage children that may have difficulty engaging in imaginative play to make use of the play elements.
The extensive sand area contains elevated sand pits, allowing children in wheelchairs to engage with this material. Working with major constraints in terms of site slope and levels, the landscape architects designed a series of wheelchair accessible elevated terrain that provides opportunities for overlooking, climbing, and sliding.
In addition, sound is a key element of the design. Musical instruments provide opportunities for engagement with sound for even the least able children. A wide range of materials was selected to maximize the sensory interest and tactile values without creating sensory overload. Natural materials and native planting with low maintenance requirements were also incorporated.
