CAE’s Asa Hems has visited many public green spaces across London through his work as ASAS’s Access Advisor. In this blog, Asa, a wheelchair user, looks at how design features and regular maintenance can improve the useability of parks for everyone, as well as encourage more older and disabled people to visit and enjoy these important places.
As part of my work with ASAS, I’ve recently completed site visits at several London parks and gardens, and it reminded me of the importance of these spaces. Parks and gardens help improve our physical health, mental wellbeing, and sense of community. They form places of relaxation, exercise, learning, and social connection and are free to use.
But they only work if everybody can use them.
Accessible path surfaces
Paths are often where access succeeds or fails. Routes need to be wide, firm, and non-slip, with surfaces that perform well in wet weather. They must have camber (a gradual slope) or edging so that wheeled mobility aids and buggies don’t roll into the mud on either side of the path.
Loose gravel, uneven paving and grass-only paths can disrupt easy travel. Step-free routes should be highlighted so that disabled visitors can choose to navigate in the way that suits their needs.
Steep gradients should be avoided wherever possible. Where level changes are unavoidable, gentle slopes, ramps, handrails, and regular resting points make a significant difference. Clear, logical routes also reduce anxiety, particularly for people with visual and mobility impairments and neurodivergent visitors.
However, accessibility involves more than just design. Common issues in London parks include overgrown vegetation and low-hanging branches, along with portable bins and café furniture that obstruct the main paths.
Regular maintenance including cutting back vegetation and keeping routes clear removes barriers quickly and at relatively low cost. Meanwhile, clear signage enables confidence and independence.
Clear signage and level entrances
Wayfinding signs should be easy to read and in plain language. They should contrast with their environment, be consistent in style and be positioned at accessible heights. Key areas should be signposted including toilets and entrances.
Small level changes at entrances can prevent access altogether. Entrances to cafés, visitor centres and greenhouses should be level and wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair user with clearly signposted step-free alternatives where steps are unavoidable.
If you’re interested in learning more, CAE offers a public training course, Access and Wayfinding in the External Environment, which provides expert knowledge on how to use navigation, orientation and way‑finding to enhance the accessibility of building and external environments, such as parks and gardens. So, what about other park facilities, like loos?
Accessible toilets
Accessible toilets are often the deciding factor to whether someone visits a park at all. If there’s no toilet on the site or one that is nearby, I’m unlikely to visit. Toilets should be well signposted, unlocked when parks are open and properly maintained.
In larger green spaces, Changing Places toilets should be considered; they include a hoist and changing bench. If there are no toilets on site, park users should be able to find out where the nearest one is located via a map on the park’s website, which will also show other facilities
Seating, events and indoor spaces
Having plenty of seating, well-spaced out, allows people to rest along routes and manage fatigue. Benches with backs and armrests, placed on level ground beside paths, mean people can enjoy spaces together, including wheelchair users like me; it’s nice to be able to sit alongside a companion.
Events in parks should consider accessibility from the outset, including step-free access, accessible viewing areas, clear advance information and free companion or personal assistant tickets.
Indoor spaces such as cafés, education rooms and visitor centres also need to pay attention to layout, lighting, and acoustics. Clear, quieter spaces can be particularly helpful for neurodivergent visitors.
Online information
Essentially, clearly written, honest accessibility information on a website is one of the most effective inclusion tools. Disabled people are far more likely to visit accessible places with their family or carers if they know what to expect.
Details about paths, gradients, toilets, seating and seasonal changes help disabled people and others plan for their access needs. And accessible maps and downloadable access guides reduce uncertainty for those visitors and make their visits far more likely.
Key resources
- Sensory Trust – Inclusive access to nature guidance
https://www.sensorytrust.org.uk - Fields in Trust – Accessible outdoor space guidance
https://fieldsintrust.org - Equality and Human Rights Commission – Equality Act and accessibility guidance
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com - Changing Places – Changing Places toilet guidance
https://www.changing-places.org - GOV.UK – Inclusive environments and accessibility standards
https://www.gov.uk
Interested to know more about ASAS? Head to our webpage for more information. Please email Asa via asas@cae.org.uk if you would like attend one of ASAS’s free training sessions to learn about inclusive design and making environments accessible.
More: Read Asa’s blog on inclusive language and communication and how it is essential to ensuring content respects, empowers and includes everyone.
Top image: St. James’s Park, London.