ADA Checklist for Readily Achievable Barrier Removal

Supplemental Requirements - Play Areas







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 Institute for Human Centered Design
 www.HumanCenteredDesign.org                                                             
                                                                     
 ADA National Network - Funded by the Department of Education
 Questions on the ADA call 800.949.4232 v/tty  www.adata.org 
Supplemental Requirements - Play Areas
Comments
Possible Solutions
Play Areas  (2010 Standards - 206, 240 & 1008) Note: Play areas for children under age 2 and play areas in family child care facilities where the proprietor resides do 
not have to comply.

Is there an accessible route 
to the entrance of the play 
area?

If there are separate play 
areas within a site for specific 
age groups, is there an 
accessible route to each play 
area?

Use the checklist for Priority 
1: Approach & Entrance for 
all accessible route 
questions.
? Yes   ? No

? Yes   ? No








Photo #:


Ground Level Play 
Components
Is there an accessible route 
to at least one of each type 
of ground level play 
component?

Notes: 
1. Ground level play 
components are items that 
can be approached and 
exited at ground level. 
Examples include rockers, 
swings, diggers, and stand-
alone slides. When 
distinguishing between 
different types of ground 
level play components, 
consider the general 
experience provided. 
Experiences include, but are 
not limited to, rocking, 
swinging, climbing, spinning, 
and sliding.  A spiral slide 
may provide a slightly 
different experience from a 
straight slide, but sliding is 
the general experience and 
therefore a spiral slide is not 
considered a different type 
of play component from a 
straight slide. 
? Yes   ? No





If there are elevated play 
components, is there an 
accessible route to at least 
the following number and 
type of ground level play 
components?  See chart 
below.

Notes: 
1. The intent is to provide a 
variety of experiences for 
children who want to remain 
in their wheelchair or with 
their walker or other mobility 
device and who choose not 
to transfer to elevated play 
components.
2 Where a large play area 
includes two or more 
composite play structures 
designed for the same age 
group, use the total number 
of elevated play components 
on all the composite play 
structures to determine the 
additional number and types 
of ground level play 
components to provide on an 
accessible route.
3. If ramps provide access to 
at least 50 percent of the 
elevated play components - 
which must include at least 3 
different play types - then 
the additional ground level 
components specified in the 
chart are not required.
? Yes   ? No

Amber, 
Can you move the chart to under 
the notes in this question? I've 
tried unsuccessfully, it messes 
up the row formatting.



If there are one or more 
water play component(s) is 
there an accessible route to 
at least one of each type of 
ground level component?

Note: If the accessible route 
is submerged, it is not 
required to be slip resistant, 
the running slope may be 
steeper than 1:12 and the 
cross slope may be steeper 
than 1:48.
? Yes   ? No





If there is a soft contained 
play structure with three or 
fewer entry point, is there an 
accessible route to at least 
one entry point?

It there are four or more 
entry points, are there 
accessible routes to at least 
two entry points?

Notes: 
1. A soft contained play area 
is a play structure made of 
one or more components on 
which a person enters a fully 
enclosed play environment 
that uses pliable materials 
such as plastic, soft padding 
and fabric. 

2. Transfer systems may be 
part of the accessible route.
? Yes   ? No



? Yes   ? No





If there are two or more 
required ground level play 
components are they 
dispersed throughout the 
play area and integrated with 
other play components?
? Yes   ? No





On the accessible route that 
serves accessible ground 
level play components, is the 
vertical clearance at least 80 
inches above the ground 
surface?
? Yes   ? No

Measurement:





Is the accessible route 
connecting accessible ground 
level play components at 
least:

60 inches wide
or
44 inches wide in play areas 
less than 1000 square feet if 
the accessible route is longer 
than 30 feet and a turning 
space is provided?
or
36 inches wide for a distance 
no greater than 60 inches if 
multiple reduced segments 
are separated by segments at 
least 60 wide and at least 60 
inches long?

? Yes   ? No

Measurement:





Is the accessible route 
connecting accessible ground 
level components no steeper 
than 1:16, i.e. for every inch 
of height change there are at 
least 16 inches of run?
? Yes   ? No

Measurement:





On the accessible route 
connecting accessible ground 
level play components if 
handrails are required:

Is the handrail gripping 
surface no less than 20 
inches and no greater than 
28 inches above the ramp 
surface?

Is the handrail gripping 
surface:
Circular with an outside 
diameter of at least .95inch 
and no more than 1.55 
inches?
Or
Non-circular providing an 
equivalent gripping surface?

Note: 
1. Handrails are not required 
within on ramps within the 
ground level use zones.

2. Handrail extensions are 
not required. 



? Yes   ? No

Measurement:






? Yes   ? No





Photo #:


Number of Elevated Play 
Components Provided
Minimum Number of Ground Level Play Components 
Required to be on an Accessible Route
Minimum Number of Different Types of Ground Level Play 
Components Required to be on an Accessible Route
1
n/a
n/a
2 to 4
1
1
5 to 7 
2
2
8 to 10
3
3
11 to 13
4
3
14 to 16
5
3
17 to 19
6
3
20 to 22
7
4
23 to 25
8
4
26 and over
8, plus 1 for each additional 3, or fraction thereof, over 25
5


Ground Level Play 
Components
If there are swings, is there a 
clear floor space for a person 
in a wheelchair to turn 
around, i.e. a circle at least 
60 inches in diameter or a T-
shaped space within a 60-
inch square, located 
immediately adjacent to at 
least one swing?
? Yes   ? No










Photo #:


If there is a play table for 
children 5 years and younger, 
is there a clear floor/ground 
space at least 30 inches wide 
by at least 48 inches long 
positioned for a parallel 
approach?

If there is a play table for 
children older than 5 years:

Is there a clear floor/ground 
space at least 30 inches wide 
by at least 48 inches long 
positioned for a forward 
approach?

Is there vertical clearance 
underneath extending at 
least 24 inches high?

Is there horizontal clearance 
underneath extending at 
least 17 inches deep?

Is there horizontal clearance 
underneath extending at 
least 30 inches wide?

Are the tops of rims, curbs, 
or other obstructions no 
greater than 31 inches above 
the floor/ground?
? Yes   ? No

Measurement:






? Yes   ? No

Measurement:



? Yes   ? No

Measurement:

? Yes   ? No

Measurement:

? Yes   ? No

Measurement:

? Yes   ? No

Measurement:

































Photo #:


If there are elevated play 
components, is there an 
accessible route to at least 
50 percent?

See Accessible Route section.  

Exceptions:
1. If there are fewer than 20 
elevated play components, 
transfer systems may be 
used as part of the accessible 
route instead of ramps.
2. If there are 20 or more 
elevated play components, 
no more than 25 percent of 
them may be connected by 
transfer systems instead of 
ramps.
3. If there are transfer 
systems, an elevated play 
component may connect to 
another elevated play 
component as part of the 
accessible route.
? Yes   ? No


























Photo #:


Is the accessible route 
connecting elevated play 
components at least 36 
inches wide?
Or
Is the accessible route 
connecting elevated play 
components at least 32 
inches wide for a distance no 
greater than 24 inches if the 
reduced width segments are 
separated by segments at 
least 48 inches long and at 
least 36 inches wide?

If a transfer system is part of 
the accessible route 
connecting elevated play 
components, is the transfer 
system at least 24 inches 
wide?
? Yes   ? No

Measurement:

? Yes   ? No

Measurement:





? Yes   ? No

Measurement:




































Photo #:


Is the rise for any ramp run 
connecting elevated play 
components no greater than 
12 inches?
? Yes   ? No

Measurement:





Photo #:


If the ramp has a rise higher 
than 6 inches, are there 
handrails on both sides?


? Yes   ? No

Measurement:







Photo #:


Is the top of the gripping 
surface no less than 34 
inches and no greater than 
38 inches above the ramp 
surface?
? Yes   ? No

Measurement:





Photo #:


Is the handrail gripping 
surface continuous and not 
obstructed along the top or 
sides?

? Yes   ? No






Photo #:


If the handrail gripping 
surface is:

Circular, is the cross section 
no less than .94 inch and no 
greater than 1.55 inch?

Non-circular, it equivalent to 
a circular gripping surface 
with a cross section no less 
than .94 inch and no greater 
than 1.55 inch?


? Yes   ? No

Measurement:

? Yes   ? No

Measurement:















Photo #:


Is there at least one 
accessible route within the 
play area connecting ground 
level play components and 
elevated play components 
that are on an accessible 
route, including entry and 
exit points of the play 
components?


? Yes   ? No












Photo #:


Is there a clear floor space 
for a person in a wheelchair 
to turn around, i.e. a circle at 
least 60 inches in diameter or 
a T-shaped space within a 60-
inch square, on the same 
level as the play component 
at:
Ground level play 
components on an accessible 
route? 
Elevated play components 
connected by ramps?






? Yes   ? No

Measurement:

? Yes   ? No

Measurement:

















Photo #:


If there is a transfer system 
connecting elevated play 
components, is there a 
transfer platform?
? Yes   ? No




Photo #:


Is the platform surface:

At least 14 inches deep by at 
least 24 inches wide? 


No less than 11 inches and 
no greater than 18 inches 
from the floor/ground?

? Yes   ? No

Measurement:

? Yes   ? No

Measurement:










Photo #:


Is there a clear transfer space 
at least 30 inches wide by at 
least 48 inches long adjacent 
to the platform, with the 
longer dimension centered 
on and parallel to the 24 inch 
minimum long side of the 
platform?
? Yes   ? No

Measurement:








Photo #:


Is the side of the transfer 
platform adjacent to the 
clear space unobstructed?


? Yes   ? No






Photo #:


If movement is intended 
from transfer platforms to 
levels with accessible 
elevated play components, 
are there transfer steps?
? Yes   ? No





Photo #:


Is the transfer step, or steps:

At least 14 inches deep?




At least 24 inches wide?



No higher than 8 inches?

? Yes   ? No

Measurement:

? Yes   ? No

Measurement:

? Yes   ? No

Measurement:
















Photo #:


If the play component on an 
accessible route requires 
transfer to entry points or 
seats, is the entry point or 
seat no less than 11 inches 
and no greater than 24 
inches from the clear 
floor/ground space?
? Yes   ? No

Measurement:











Photo #:


If there is a transfer system, 
transfer steps, or if the play 
component on an accessible 
route requires transfer to 
entry points or seats, is there 
at least one means of 
transfer support?
? Yes   ? No







Photo #:
Some examples of supports 
include a rope loop, a loop 
type handle, a slot in the edge 
of a flat horizontal or vertical 
member, poles or bars, or D 
rings on the corner posts. 

Do ground surfaces inside 
the play area (on accessible 
routes, clear ground spaces, 
and turning spaces)  comply 
with ASTM  F 1951-99 
Standard Specification for 
Determination of Accessibility 
of Surface Systems Under 
and Around Playground 
Equipment? 

Notes: 
1. ASTM is the American 
Society for Testing and 
Materials.

2 A portable device - the 
Rotational Penetrometer  - 
measures surface firmness 
and stability.
? Yes   ? No





Do the ground surfaces 
within use zones (the ground 
level area beneath and 
immediately adjacent to a 
play structure or play 
equipment that is designated 
for unrestricted circulation 
around the play equipment 
and where it is predicted that 
a user would land when 
falling from or exiting the play 
equipment) comply with 
ASTM F 1292-04 Standard 
Specification for Impact 
Attenuation of Surfacing 
Materials Within the Use 
Zone of Playground 
Equipment?
? Yes   ? No






ADA Checklist for Readily Achievable Barrier Removal	Supplemental Requirements - Play Areas
Institute for Human Centered Design 	 DRAFT - January 17, 2012	Supplemental Requirements - Play Areas
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