The Influence of a Universally Designed Playground on the Play Interactions between Grandparents and Their Grandchildren

Abstract

The current study analyzes how a universally designed playground impacts grandparents and their grandchildren. Specifically, this paper reports the analysis of survey and online short answer questions from 28 grandparents who visited the universally designed playground with their infant, toddler, and preschool-age grandchildren. The majority of the grandparents participated in swinging, running, hiding and seeking activities, and playground equipment activities with their grandchildren. Despite the universal design of the playground, grandparents reported that some of the pieces of playground equipment were inaccessible to them due to their age and/or use of assistive devices. However, benefits of having a universal design playground that is mostly ground-level, as explained by study participants, includes the ability to play with their grandchildren and manage their grandchildren’s behavior while they were visiting the playground. By designing and building playgrounds that respond to their community’s evolving needs and preferences, parks and recreation administrators may improve the economic well being of their community, create safer neighborhoods, revitalize the community, and promote positive physical and emotional health in consumers of all ages.