Central Coast Council is committed to creating accessible and inclusive playspaces where everyone feels welcome and can participate in community life. Our goal is to design and maintain playspaces that are accessible and inclusive, ensuring that everyone, regardless of age, gender, ability or background, can have a positive experience.
What is the difference between accessible and inclusive playspaces?
Accessible: Any playspace that can be entered or reached without challenge where the movement needs of individuals with limited mobility or specific disabilities are considered and they can also easily manoeuvre between pieces of play equipment.
Inclusive: An inclusive playground helps children of all backgrounds and abilities feel a sense of belonging by ensuring every child can fully engage with the equipment without limitations. An inclusive playground enriches play for everyone by providing a variety of sensory experiences that children of all abilities can enjoy.
Our approach to inclusive and accessible playspaces
We're dedicated to implementing the principles of inclusive and accessible playspaces, in line with Council’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan and the NSW Government's ‘Everyone Can Play’ guidelines, which we helped develop through a collaborative process involving advocacy groups, parents, educators and industry experts. These guidelines ensure that new and upgraded playspaces meet high standards of accessibility and inclusion.
While we strive to make all our playspaces accessible and inclusive not every space can accommodate everyone's needs. Our larger district and regional playspaces offer the widest range of inclusive features.
To ensure that our playspaces meet accessibility standards, we've conducted an independent access assessment of all our playspaces and are developing a program to enhance accessibility across the region. Our priority is to address barriers in existing regional, district and select local playspaces.
When designing accessible and inclusive playspaces, we consider factors such as:
- continuous paths of accessible travel
- accessible play equipment
- accessible toilet facilities
- shade
- water refilling stations
- fencing requirements
- ground cover
- stimulating or quiet play equipment
- colourful or natural infrastructure
- visibility and clear lines of sight
- parking.
Inclusive playspaces across the Central Coast
We're proud to offer a range of inclusive playspaces throughout the Central Coast. These spaces feature a variety of accessible and inclusive elements, allowing everyone to enjoy the benefits of outdoor play.
Accessible playspaces guide for the Central Coast
View our online Accessible Playspaces Central Coast brochure or pick up your hardcopy from Council's customer service centres at Gosford or Wyong, or one of our libraries.
Our community told us during the development of our Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) 2021-2025 that they want accessibility information for Central Coast destinations to provide local parents and carers of children with a disability more information on accessible playspaces to be able to plan ahead when taking their children out.
In consultation with the Council’s Access and Inclusion Reference Group, input from Council asset managers and informed by the three principles of the Everyone Can Play Guidelines (Can I get there? Can I play? Can I stay?) (at the time of printing)), 13 local playspaces were profiled and selected for our Accessible Playspaces brochure. The brochure contains factual information listing the accessible features of each and is designed in an accessible format including pictograms and a pin drop map.
The Central Coast Accessible Playspaces include:
- Berkeley Vale – Kurraba Oval, Kurraba Parade
- Budgewoi – McKenzie Reserve, Weemala Street
- Buff Point – Edgewater Park, Narambu Road
- Canton Beach – Canton Beach Foreshore, Cnr Beach Parade and Belbowrie Street
- Copacabana – Shaun Brinklow Park, Copacabana Drive
- Copacabana – Susan Fahey Park, Peublo Street
- Ettalong Beach – Ettalong Foreshore Playground, The Esplanade
- Green Point – Sun Valley Park, Sun Valley Road
- Gwandalan – Tunkuwallin Oval, Kanangra Drive
- Long Jetty – Saltwater Creek Reserve, Tuggerah Parade
- The Entrance – Memorial Park East, Marine Parade
- The Entrance – Memorial Park West, The Entrance Road
- Umina Beach – Peninsula Recreation Precinct, Sydney Avenue
This latest guide adds to the collection of resources for our community and visitors such as Accessible Nature brochure and Accessible Beaches brochure.
List of inclusive playspaces:
| Suburb | Playspace name | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Avoca Beach | Ross Park | Fenced playground. Accessible swing seat. Rubber softfall. Surfboard, Moduplay Boat |
| Bateau Bay | The Cottage Play Space | Full rubber surfacing, concrete access paths, low play elements on climbing unit. |
| Berkeley Vale | Kurraba Oval | Full rubber surfacing, concrete access paths, sound play elements, basket swing, low play elements on climbing unit, step access to one climbing unit, partially fenced, accessible toilet and picnic table. |
| Blue Haven | Lady Laurel Drive Reserve | Full rubber surfacing, concrete access paths, low play elements on climbing unit, step access to climbing unit. |
| Buff Point | Edgewater Park | Full rubber surfacing, concrete access paths, basket swing, low play elements on climbing unit, partially fenced, accessible toilet and picnic table, sculptural play elements. |
| Buff Point | Buff Point Oval | Full rubber surfacing, concrete access paths, low play elements on climbing unit, step access to climbing unit. |
| Canton Beach | Canton Beach All Access Playground | Full rubber surfacing, climbing dome, sound play elements, inclusive swing, hammock net, fully fenced area, specifically designed in conjunction with Guide Dogs Assn, accessible toilets and picnic tables, accessible parking spaces. |
| Copacabana | Susan Fahey Park district playspace, 12 Pueblo St, Copacabana | This playspace includes an inclusive play unit with accessible spinner, accessible see saw and unique rope swing; upgrade to the existing basket swing with rubber softfall to improve accessibility for all; play space area with a bespoke timber ‘peek a boo’ wall with informational highlights about the surrounding bushland and natural elements of Copacabana complete with braille buttons connecting wheelchair accessible pathways; accessible BBQ’s , new picnic shelter and tables, drink bottle refill station; a concrete outdoor ping pong table, an outdoor chess table, adult fitness equipment. The existing toilets, which previously serviced the tennis courts, are open for public use. |
| Copacabana | Shaun Brinklow Park, 88A Copacabana Dr, Copacabana | This fenced play space has rubber softfall surfacing and includes a wheelchair accessible carousel, two bay swing set (incorporating the all abilities swing set with a 5 point harness and a nest swing), continuous pathways which double as a trike track with transport themed signage and features to encourage imaginative play. There is also a large climbing net, musical elements and a double slide. With its shaded picnic facilities and the planting of advanced shade trees throughout the park, this will be the perfect location for socialising and outdoor play. |
| East Gosford | Edogawa Commemorative Gardens | Fish feeding opportunity. Quiet spaces for retreat. |
| East Gosford | Elizabeth Ross Park | Playdale Birdnest swing, concrete path. |
| Empire Bay | Sorrento Road | Forpark senior swing with frame and handles Accessible swing. |
| Erina | Erina Community Hall, Ilya Avenue | Fenced playground |
| Wamberal | Wairakei Road | Fenced playground, accessible path from street |
| Ettalong | Ettalong Foreshore | Basket swing, rubber softfall, accessible paths, bongo drums, shade cover, carousel |
| Green Point | Sun Valley Park district playspace, 6 Sun Valley Rd, Green Point | Play equipment for a wide range of ages and abilities including nature play, climbing, balancing, swinging and spinning play elements, and equipment which is inter-generational so everyone can interact together. There's also a flying fox, shade structures and fencing, two upgraded basketball courts, connective pedestrian pathways. park furniture, public barbeques, picnic tables , water refill station, landscaping to complement the natural environment, off street carpark, upgraded amenities building. |
| Gwandalan | Tunkuwallin Oval district playspace, 130 Kanangra Dr, Gwandalan | Playspace includes an inclusive custom oversized bead and rail activity, nest swing, carousel and accessible pathways circulating the facility. |
| Hamlyn Terrace | Highland Cr Reserve | Full rubber surfacing, concrete access path, low play elements on climbing unit. |
| Hamlyn Terrace | Skyhawk Avenue Reserve | Full rubber surfacing, concrete access paths, inclusive play equipment accessible spinner, low play elements on climbing unit. |
| Kanwal | Dean Avenue Reserve | Full rubber surfacing, concrete access path, basket swing, low play elements on climbing unit,. |
| Kariong | Kariong Hall | Fenced playground |
| Killarney Vale | Avery Street Reserve | Full rubber surfacing, concrete access paths, carousel. |
| Koolewong | Koolewong foreshore | Fenced playground |
| Long Jetty | Saltwater Creek Reserve | Full rubber surfacing, Liberty Swing, climbing dome, sound play elements, shade sails, fully fenced area, accessible toilets, BBQ and picnic tables, accessible parking spaces. |
| Mannering Park | Mannering Park play space | Partial rubber/synthetic grass surfacing, concrete access paths from street to equipment, basket swing, low play elements on climbing unit, accessible picnic table, partially fenced. |
| Narara | Mitchell Park | Partially fenced, low elements, accessible path from street, shelter, shade from trees |
| Narara | Willari Ave/Apara Close Park | Nest Swing, concrete access path from street and around park, nature play low elements, shelters, seating with back rest |
| Ourimbah | Sohier Park Play Space | Partial rubber surfacing, concrete access paths from road, sound play elements, accessible picnic table, net swing, shelter. |
| Terrigal | Terrigal Rotary Park | Concrete Path access, merry go round, basket/net swing, rubber softfall, |
| The Entrance | Memorial Park East | Full rubber surfacing, sound play elements, basket swing, low play elements on climbing unit, fully fenced, accessible toilet and picnic table, accessible parking. |
| The Entrance | Memorial Park West | Full rubber/synthetic grass surfacing, inclusive play equipment, accessible trampoline, accessible spinner, low play elements on climbing unit. |
| Toowoon Bay | Swadling Park | New accessible BBQ and picnic tables under shelters. |
| Umina | Peninsula Recreation Precinct | Wheel chair accessible Merry Go round, basket net swing, maze, pirate ship, sand play table. Accessible Swing. |
| Watanobbi | Spotted Gum Park | Full rubber surfacing, concrete access path from street, low play elements on climbing unit. |
| Wyong | Frank Ballance Park | Full rubber/synthetic grass surfacing, water bubbler, low carousel, shade sails, seats with backs |