Working together for greater inclusion on playgrounds
How can playgrounds and public spaces for physical activity be designed so that as many people as possible can use them, regardless of their individual abilities?
The first session addressed this important question Conference on „Inclusive Spaces for Play and Physical Activity“, which took place on 29 and 30 September 2026 at the Congress-Centrum Ost at Koelnmesse.
The two-day specialist event brought together representatives from local authorities, landscape architecture, urban planning, academia and the playground construction sector to discuss current developments, challenges and practical solutions for inclusive play and activity areas. Also Kaiser & Kühne was present at the event as a sponsor and with its own information stand, to promote professional dialogue and highlight the importance of inclusive playground design.
Kaiser & Kühne as sponsor and local point of contact
The following took part on behalf of Kaiser & Kühne: André Wrigge from the Marketing department and Jano Radzeweit from the Special Equipment Planning department I took part in the event.
At our information stand, we presented our approaches to creating durable and versatile play areas and were on hand to answer questions and engage in discussions with conference attendees. The focus was on the possibilities for inclusive playground design, as well as the importance of well-thought-out planning and bespoke solutions. It is precisely the combination of technical expertise in playground equipment design and direct dialogue with planners and specialists that opens up valuable perspectives for future projects. Through our sponsorship, we also aimed to highlight the importance of inclusion and to support professional dialogue between the various stakeholders.
Inclusive playgrounds: More than just accessible entrances
Inclusion means far more than simply providing individual accessible entrances or specialised play equipment.
What matters most is the overall concept of a play area. A variety of physical activities, diverse play opportunities and a well-thought-out design can help children with different abilities to play together and gain their own experiences. In doing so, physical, sensory, cognitive and social needs should all be taken into account. For Kaiser & Kühne, this holistic approach is a key component of play equipment development. Our play equipment offers a variety of ways to move, explore and play together. A specially developed icon system helps planners to identify the various play and inclusion features of the equipment at an early stage of the planning process.
Specialist presentations, practical examples and new perspectives
The conference programme offered a wealth of interesting insights into the planning and design of inclusive play and activity areas.
Key topics included the requirements for inclusive playground design, addressing diverse needs, and the importance of public open spaces as places for people to meet. Practical examples and the question of how inclusion can be taken into account when planning exercise facilities also played an important role. Another key focus was the examination of barriers that are not always immediately visible. The various expert presentations highlighted how important it is to incorporate different perspectives into the planning process at an early stage. After all, a successful inclusive play area is created through the interplay of design, functionality, safety and a wide range of possible uses.
Personal interaction as a key component
As well as the specialist presentations, the conference offered numerous opportunities for one-to-one discussions.
At our information stand, we were able to discuss current challenges and requirements for modern playgrounds with visitors and industry representatives. The different perspectives from planning, local authority practice and play equipment development are particularly valuable. They help us to understand requirements even better and to continuously refine our solutions. This direct dialogue consistently demonstrates how important collaboration between different specialist areas is for creating attractive and inclusive play spaces.
Our conclusion: Working together to advance inclusion
The 2026 Inclusion Congress in Cologne highlighted the importance of designing public play and exercise areas to be inclusive today.
The combination of specialist presentations, practical examples and face-to-face meetings provided a valuable platform for dialogue within the industry. For Kaiser & Kühne, it was a good opportunity to play an active part in this dialogue and, through our sponsorship, to highlight the importance of inclusive playground design. We are taking many interesting insights and ideas back with us to Eystrup and look forward to incorporating these new perspectives into our day-to-day work.
Many thanks to the organisers at playground@landscape and to everyone I spoke to for the interesting discussions and the successful event!
