Overview

The brand new 'Maximum Accessibility' playground is a first-of-its-kind park, designed for (and BY) disabled people. It provides a place for people of all ages and abilities to play together, with extensive equipment including a wheelchair seesaw, swing, and roundabout. For some of these, you need a RADAR key, which is not advertised online or stated at the park. If you forget or don't have your own, you can ask at the reception for a spare, but only if it is open. Scope Charity have provided research to show that, despite there being over 1 MILLION disabled children in the UK, half (49%) of parents in these families say there are accessibility issues at their local playground. This space directly addresses the challenges faced by the disability community and empowers disabled and non-disabled people of all ages to play together without exclusion or bias. Local residents with lived experience of these barriers, parents, and carers were all involved in shaping the project from the outset, putting the disability community at the heart of it all. As the Mayor of the borough said so adequately, it's thanks to a wonderful team of fundraisers that made this possible, and lets hope this is a model that we can see more of in future!

Transport & Parking

The lack of level access at train stations is no one's fault but TFL's, and they are currently working to improve that however it is a long, slow, and unreliable process. Locations further out of the city center like this are often better equipped, however New Barnet train station is not. There is a car park at the playground, however this shuts in the evening with no way to get in or out. This means the only option is street parking, which is often busy or unsafe for disabled drivers. There are no access specific bays along the road so it can be tight or difficult to park and then get yourself and any mobility aids out the vehicle. Generally, I have never had trouble finding a spot there, but I have had to make use of my blue badge allowing me to stop on double yellow lines for this. See picture attached for the way in off the pavement, as this is quite hard to navigate on wheels and is uneven with lots of cracks.

Access

The signs are well colour contrasted, and in a reader friendly font. They all come in tactile prints and braille, too. The gates are hard to open independently, and some of the equipment is only partially accessible - providing only step free access. There are flat levels across the park, and the surface is easy to move around on as a wheelchair user. All of the toys are set at a low height to allow people of all statures to engage, which is also great for those of us who get around seated. The notice as you enter states that all ages and abilities are free to come in, which is great as adults who enjoy typically more 'childish' activities are often infantalised or excluded altogether. Lots of bright colours and different textures make it a great sensory experience, however it is all outdoors and completely uncovered so there is little protection from the weather. It can get busy and there is no way to book time slots etc. so if you struggle with loud noises or crowds, try to go off peak. The gym section could have included more adaptations such as removable seats on some of the equipment as they are difficult to get in to with a wheelchair. Assistance animals are of course welcome, and there is plenty of green space for them too. Another thing about the grass is that this is a great way for disabled/ chronically ill people to spend time in nature where otherwise they might struggle due to fluctuating environments and rocky or muddy terrains. Some of the equipment had size or weight restrictions but it has been made to fit as wide a range of people as possible.

Toilets

There is a slight ledge if you are entering through the cafe, but not enough to constitute a 'step'. There is no changing place but it was big enough to turn, transfer, and have a carer with you. The red cord was hanging down to the floor, and it seemed well kept too. This is, again, only available during the center opening hours despite the park being free 24/7.

Staff

See my full visit vlog here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C64FEcGoQ80/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Photos