The first inclusive playground in Neukölln was recently opened in Gropiusstadt in Berlin-Neukölln. Children with and without disabilities should now be able to play together at Sollmannweg 19.
So far there are ten such playgrounds with elements throughout Berlin that can also be used by children with physical disabilities. There are, among other things, climbing nests, slides, swings and a tower with a giant slide.
With the design, the planning team alludes to the adjacent bird grove: the climbing equipment revolves around the theme of birds and their nests and simulates various breeding forms.
The barrier-free play area has animal tracks that lead over small bumps. There is also a small streetball facility and sand play equipment. The Gropius Passagen have sponsored the playground.
And what is the inclusive approach? For children with visual impairments, the playground equipment should be particularly easy to recognize or touch, for children with walking disabilities and wheelchairs there are extra large movement areas around the equipment as well as ramps and special entrances. This is evident from the planning documents for the playground.
The playground should make it easier for children with mental disabilities to play with clear structures and divisions, but also create places for quiet observation. The latter are also used, for example, by shy children to get an overview or to be able to play quietly.
For hyperactive children, the devices should create many different incentives to use all parts of the body and gamble away as much energy as possible.
On the opposite side of the so-called BBR green corridor there are areas for older children and young people who can let off steam on the table tennis table, trampoline and a parcour climbing facility. There is also a so-called “Gropion”, a specially designed seating area made of concrete and wood, whose name alludes to Gropiusstadt. More information about the playgrounds can be found here.
