Beyond Boundaries: All-Abilities Playground Planning - El Paso, Texas

The Beyond Boundaries: All-Abilities Playground Planning Report lays the foundation for the City of El Paso’s first regional, inclusive playground—a space designed to welcome children of all abilities. Completed in Spring 2024, the six-month planning process was built around community engagement, data-driven site selection, and best practices in inclusive design.

Inclusive or "all-abilities" play goes beyond accessibility—it ensures physical, cognitive, sensory, and social play opportunities that support children with disabilities and their caregivers. The goal of this planning effort was to create a shared vision for a playground where everyone, regardless of ability, can play and thrive together.

Through more than 15 engagement events, surveys, and workshops—including events like Chalk the Block and a Children’s Playshop—the project team engaged over 1,000 residents, caregivers, educators, and disability advocates. Participants helped shape decisions about the playground’s features, themes, locations, and amenities. Popular design priorities included water and sensory play, shaded gathering areas, multigenerational spaces, and quiet, calm areas for solo play. Themes like dinosaurs, nature, and trains emerged as playful, inclusive inspirations.

The planning team also conducted a detailed geospatial analysis to identify the most suitable sites for the playground. Using a two-stage scoring process and eleven prioritization criteria—ranging from central location to ADA access and nearby transit—the team identified five recommended City-owned parcels for future development.

The final plan offers actionable recommendations organized across four areas: branding and engagement; play features and opportunities; amenities and caregiver support; and site selection. It also includes a vision statement developed by the community:

“The All-Abilities Playground in El Paso is a place where everyone in our community can play—regardless of their abilities and without barriers.”

With this roadmap in place, the City of El Paso is well-positioned to move forward with design and construction of a one-of-a-kind destination playground. The result will be a vibrant, inclusive public space that reflects the values of equity, accessibility, and joy for all.