Outdoors Nearby

Accessible and inclusive playgrounds near you

1,082 playgrounds in 50 states that are mapped as wheelchair accessible, built for all abilities or designed around sensory play. Search by city or ZIP, or browse the list by state.

Illustration: an inclusive playground with a wide ramp to the play deck, rubber surfacing and a child in a wheelchair playing next to a friend
Illustration, not a photo of a specific playground

Find an accessible playground near you

    Accessible playgrounds by state

    Inclusive and sensory playgrounds

    These were built for kids of all abilities to play side by side. Many have a story: a local family, a foundation like Magical Bridge or Shane's Inspiration, or a city that rebuilt an old playground from scratch.

    What makes a playground accessible

    Since March 2012, every new or rebuilt public playground in the US has to follow the play area rules in the 2010 ADA Standards. In short, they ask for three things:

    Inclusive playgrounds go beyond that minimum. Look for wide ramps that reach the top deck, roller slides that do not build up static (important for cochlear implants), high-back or platform swings, a merry-go-round flush with the ground, sensory and music panels at seated height, shade, and a fenced edge or quiet corner for kids who get overwhelmed.

    Illustration: a parent pushes a child in an adaptive high-back swing next to a ground-level merry-go-round on rubber surfacing
    Illustration of adaptive swings and ground-level play

    Before you go

    Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors and official city and park department pages. Missing a playground? Tell us through the suggestion form.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the difference between an accessible and an inclusive playground?

    An accessible playground lets a child using a wheelchair or walker reach the play area and at least some equipment, mostly through ramps, transfer stations and a firm surface. An inclusive playground goes further: it is designed so kids of all abilities can play together, with things like wide ramps to the upper deck, adaptive swings, ground-level spinners, sensory panels and quiet spots.

    Are public playgrounds required to be wheelchair accessible?

    Yes. Under the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, public playgrounds built or altered since March 15, 2012 must meet accessibility rules for play areas: an accessible route to the equipment, a share of ground-level and elevated play components on that route, and surfaces that a wheelchair can roll on. Older playgrounds only have to comply when they are rebuilt or altered.

    Which playground surface is best for wheelchairs?

    Poured-in-place rubber, rubber tiles and synthetic turf are the easiest to roll on. Engineered wood fiber can meet the rules when it is kept level and topped up, but loose chips shift fast. Sand and pea gravel are hard for wheels and walkers.

    How many accessible playgrounds do you list?

    1,082 in 50 states: 347 inclusive, 11 with a sensory focus, 555 mapped as wheelchair accessible and 169 partly accessible. Most are in California (167), New York (88), Illinois (51).

    Where does the information come from?

    From OpenStreetMap (playgrounds and equipment tagged as wheelchair accessible, inclusive or sensory) and from city and park department pages. We do not visit the playgrounds ourselves, so features on site can differ. If you know a playground we are missing, use the suggestion form.