Statewide Assessment of Public Park Accessibility and Usability and Playground Safety

TL;DR

This study evaluates how accessible and safe public parks and playgrounds are for people with disabilities in Delaware, highlighting barriers to physical activity and health equity.

Contribution

The study provides a statewide assessment of park accessibility and playground safety, focusing on disability inclusion in public spaces.

Findings

Only 30% of parks had nearby transit stops, and fewer than 10% of crossings had auditory or visual signals.

62% of playgrounds were classified as safe, but 10% were potentially hazardous.

Higher playground accessibility scores were strongly linked to lower injury risk.

Abstract

Public health relevance—How does this work relate to a public health issue?
Statewide evaluation of accessibility, usability, and safety in public parks with playgrounds as community settings for physical activity;Focus on disability-inclusive access to public environments that influence physical activity, social participation, and equitable health opportunities.

Statewide evaluation of accessibility, usability, and safety in public parks with playgrounds as community settings for physical activity;

Focus on disability-inclusive access to public environments that influence physical activity, social participation, and equitable health opportunities.

Public health significance—Why is this work of significance to public health?
Identifies structural and environmental gaps, such as transit, crossings, curb ramps, restrooms, trails, and play features, that restrict safe, independent use of parks and playgrounds for people with disabilities;Demonstrates how park and playground accessibility and safety conditions may shape disparities in physical activity and community engagement.

Identifies structural and environmental gaps, such as transit, crossings, curb ramps, restrooms, trails, and play features, that restrict safe, independent use of parks and playgrounds for people with disabilities;

Demonstrates how park and playground accessibility and safety conditions may shape disparities in physical activity and community engagement.

Public health implications—What are the key implications or messages for practitioners, policy makers and/or researchers in public health?
Identifies actionable priorities for improving transit access, pedestrian infrastructure, amenities, inclusive play design, and communication support;Provides evidence to guide equitable reinvestment and integration of disability inclusion in planning, transportation, and parks and recreation policy and practice.

Identifies actionable priorities for improving transit access, pedestrian infrastructure, amenities, inclusive play design, and communication support;

Provides evidence to guide equitable reinvestment and integration of disability inclusion in planning, transportation, and parks and recreation policy and practice.

Accessible and inclusive community environments support physical activity and health equity for people with disabilities, yet gaps in design, maintenance, and communication limit safe, independent use. This statewide cross-sectional audit assessed park accessibility and usability and playground safety in publicly accessible, non-fee-based Delaware community parks with playgrounds. Fifty stratified sites were evaluated using the Community Health Inclusion Index and the America’s Playgrounds Safety Report Card by trained raters with strong interrater reliability. Descriptive analyses summarized accessibility, usability, communication, and safety features by county, with exploratory urban-suburban/micropolitan contrasts. Most sites provided wide, smooth paths, shade, and strong playground visibility, but foundational accessibility varied. Only 30% had a nearby transit stop, fewer than 10% of crossings included auditory or visual signals. Curb-ramp completeness was inconsistent, with detectable warnings frequently absent. Restrooms commonly lacked low-force doors or operable hardware, and multi-use trails often had obstacles or lacked wayfinding supports. Playground accessibility features were present at approximately two-thirds of sites, and 62% were classified as safe, although 10% were potentially hazardous or at-risk. Higher playground accessibility scores were strongly associated with lower life-threatening injury risk. Overall, gaps in transit access, pedestrian infrastructure, amenities, and communication support limit equitable, health-supportive park environments and highlight priority improvement areas.

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