By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Students were invited to a unique ‘road-test’ to help design Greater Dandenong’s upcoming all-abilities playground.
They tried on vision-impairment goggles, blindfold and white canes then took on standard play-equipment at Fotheringham Reserve.
Blindfolded students were vulnerable to any uneven surfaces, poles and swings.
But impressively, after a little trepidation, they still enjoyed scaling tall climbing frames to the very top.
The students from St Mary’s, Keysborough, Silverton and St Joseph’s primary schools also tried to play while in wheelchairs but found much of the play equipment was a ‘no-go zone’.
They were bogged down in tanbark and inclines. They craved seamless, flat surfaces and a wheelchair-accessible Liberty swing.
Consultants and Greater Dandenong Council staff designing the new accessible playground at Ross Reserve, Noble Park soaked in the kids’ feedback.
Consultant Lindsay Fraser, of Land Design Partnership, said it was clear that the students, when vision-impaired, felt less safe on moving play equipment.
“Perhaps we have to have different play forms, something that’s textural like sand and water.
“Some children want to move a lot more slowly, some a a lot faster – so we have to think about circulation around the playground.
“We have to have a lot of circulation space to allow people to move easily and safely.”
Greater Dandenong disability planning officer Chris Stewart said children with a disability still wanted to be challenged in the playground.
“These boys initially said we should put rails on the side of the slide.
“But once they’ve done it a couple of times, they get used to it.”
Mr Stewart said the upcoming playground would allow able-bodied and disabled friends to play together.
“It’s the whole aim of good design – so everyone can be included.”
