Opening of Integrated Playground for Disabled and Non-Disabled at Nowon-gu Nohae Sports Park

Creating More Inclusive Spaces Where Disabled and Non-Disabled Can Play Together: Additional Integrated Playground Established
Following Madeul Sports Park's 'Choroksoop Playground,' Nohae Sports Park Integrated Playground Opens on November 23
Reflecting Diverse Opinions Including Children with Developmental Disabilities, Slow Learners, and 'Nadogeonchukga' Participating Children

Nowon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it has completed and opened an inclusive playground for children with and without disabilities by gathering opinions from the actual users, the children.

On November 23, the district unveiled a new inclusive playground where children with and without disabilities can enjoy together, coinciding with the opening of Nohae Sports Park. This is the second inclusive playground following the ‘Green Forest Playground’ in Madeul Sports Park.

The playground is equipped with various facilities such as a ground trampoline, multi-person swings, and a complex play structure accessible by wheelchairs. A key feature is that the voices of children were reflected from the design stage to ensure that children can interact beyond disabilities.

The district has been conducting various programs to increase the utilization of the playground and guarantee the participation rights of the actual users, the children.

First, the district is running the ‘1000-Day Project to Create a Playground for Everyone’ in collaboration with Save the Children Seoul Regional Headquarters. During this process, a play environment inspection team, including four children with developmental disabilities, assessed the safety and environment of local play spaces, and the results were incorporated into the creation of the Nohae Sports Park inclusive playground.

Additionally, workshops involving children with developmental disabilities and slow learners were held, providing various channels to hear the opinions of children with disabilities regarding the inclusive playground.

Children’s opinions were also reflected through the child participation program ‘I am also an Architect.’ The children proposed design directions through on-site surveys and experienced the process of collaborating with architects to incorporate their ideas.

‘I am also an Architect’ is a program designed to enable children to actively participate in policy formulation and implementation, thereby enhancing policy effectiveness and realizing children’s rights. Currently, the Children and Youth Participation Committee continues activities to create child-friendly spaces through on-site monitoring and policy proposals.

Lee Mi-jin (20), a former participant of the ‘I am also an Architect’ program, said, “I felt a sense of accomplishment seeing my opinions reflected in the playground design process, and this experience became an opportunity to clarify my career path.” Lee Mi-jin is currently studying architecture and works as an assistant instructor for the Children and Youth Participation Committee, supporting children’s activities.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “The Nohae Sports Park inclusive playground is not only a space where all children can play together but also a space that reflects the active voices of children, which makes it even more meaningful. I hope this space we created together will be filled with the happy laughter of children.”