Inclusive playgrounds: When all children are allowed to play

Accessible playing is much more than a planning task – it is a social promise. At REHACARE 2025, exhibitors such as FHS and the social business "natürlich inklusiv" showed how inclusion can become a reality on playgrounds. Their common goal: to create places where children with and without disabilities can play together freely – and where society as a whole benefits.

In short: Focus on inclusive playgrounds

Inclusive play areas can only be created when planning, use, and accessibility are considered together.
Manufacturers such as FHS demonstrate how inclusive play equipment creates real added value, from sensory elements to wheelchair-accessible carousels.
The planning office "natürlich inklusiv" (naturally inclusive) highlights that listening, participation, and genuine encounters are the basis for true inclusion.
REHACARE combines both perspectives – this is where practical knowledge, products, and personal experiences come together.

FHS: Systematic inclusion – how accessible playing can be achieved

Bird's eye view of the large playground with barrier-free paths, climbing structures, various play areas and lots of children and adults playing; Copyright: FHS Holztechnik GmbH

Aerial view of an extensive, inclusive playground with barrier-free paths, exercise and climbing areas and communal play facilities.

Wooden play equipment with covered platform, ramp and sensory elements on a sand playground; Copyright: FHS Holztechnik

Low-barrier wooden play structure with ramp and sensory elements: Accessible play in the sand area for children with and without disabilities.

Stainless steel roundabout with two seating areas and table in the middle, suitable for children with different mobility needs; Copyright: FHS Holztechnik GmbH

The inclusive Wiggley carousel from FHS Holztechnik offers space for different mobility needs and allows users to turn together at eye level.

Colored play posts with wooden walkway; a woman pushes a child in a wheelchair, accompanied by children playing; Copyright: FHS Holztechnik

Play area with barrier-free routing: children and adults move together between colorful play posts – an example of inclusive play in public spaces.

Covered swing seat made of metal and wooden elements (Hollywood bench Neheim) on a paved square in front of a building; Copyright: FHS Holztechnik GmbH

The Hollywood bench Neheim by FHS Holztechnik: A low-barrier, movement-promoting swing seat for inclusive recreational areas in public spaces.

For FHS, inclusion does not begin with the equipment, but with the overall concept. "An inclusive playground must be designed holistically – from the access routes and materials to the restrooms," emphasizes Sebastian Schulte, CEO at FHS.

One example is the accessible Wiggley carousel: it was developed and tested in close consultation with people with various disabilities, different body sizes, and varying degrees of physical limitations – from children's wheelchairs to electric wheelchairs. "It was important to us that everyone could really fit in. To achieve this, we had to accept an extra width – transport advantages were secondary," says Schulte. Slip-resistant surfaces and sensory elements are also part of the concept, which is based on DIN 18034-2 for inclusive playgrounds.

REHACARE demonstrated that there is a huge demand for inclusive play equipment: "The response was overwhelming. Many visitors confirmed that we are providing exactly the right inspiration with equipment such as the carousel and the Hollywood bench." What is particularly exciting is that movement elements such as the Hollywood bench are also proving popular in care facilities – as a way of promoting activity among older people. This creates inclusive play across generations.

Schulte is convinced that local authorities should systematically consider inclusion in the future: "Every playground should be assessed from an inclusion perspective in the future. This requires greater networking between manufacturers, planning offices, and cities – and a willingness to involve manufacturers in the planning process."

Accessible playgrounds in practice: What constitutes true inclusion

"natürlich inklusiv" demonstrated the importance of direct experience at REHACARE – at its stand in the hall and with a guided tour of a playground outside the exhibition grounds. "One participant said: 'The will to change is a prerequisite for change.' That hit the nail on the head," says Burkhard Küthe, founder of "natürlich inklusiv".

During the tour, people with disabilities gave vivid accounts of how seemingly small barriers affect their everyday lives: ramps that are too narrow, uneven pavement, lack of accessible toilets. "These experiences showed once again that true inclusion begins with listening and experiencing – not with standards or checklists."

Group of participants standing on a grass area in front of a large playground in Nordpark during REHACARE; Copyright: 2025 natürlich inklusiv

Barriers, usage requirements, and design options were explained to the participants of the playground tour in Nordpark during REHACARE directly in the real play area.

David Lebuser and Lisa Lebuser in wheelchairs talking to two people on a low-barrier path at the playground; Copyright: 2025 natürlich inklusiv

David Lebuser and Lisa Lebuser in conversation during the playground inspection at REHACARE. The participants tested the path layout, flooring and barriers directly on site.

Inclusive playground planning: challenges and participation

The public welfare-oriented planning office cites financing, lack of participation, and insufficient priority in urban planning as the main obstacles. "natürlich inklusiv" supports those responsible in local authorities, welfare organizations, associations, schools, and daycare centers, emphasizing the importance of involving users at an early stage: "Workshops with children, young people, and people with disabilities lead to playgrounds that are not only more inclusive, but also more durable and identity-building."

The guiding principle: "We build spaces for people – not for target groups." Because playing creates encounters on an equal footing, without any theory. "When playing, no explanation is needed – you meet, laugh together, help each other. That is exactly what inclusion is all about."

The future of inclusive play areas: planning, designing, and acting together

Both FHS and "natürlich inklusiv" are convinced that the future lies in accessible play areas that are designed for everyone from the outset. When local authorities, manufacturers, and associations work together, they create places that are more than just recreational areas – they become meeting places that promote openness, diversity, and participation.

Because inclusion begins where everyone is allowed to play – in the middle of life, on the playground.

Melanie Prüser smiles in to the camera; This image was created using AI.

Author: Melanie Prüser | REHACARE eMag

Melanie Prüser writes for REHACARE eMag on topics relating to inclusion, accessibility and innovative solutions for a self-determined life. She combines editorial experience with a view of social developments in these areas.

published on: December 4, 2025