| Concern about all children's needs and the quality of children's outdoor play environments initiated a closer examination of the design and evaluation of these spaces. The post-occupancy evaluation completed in this thesis examines the process of universal design and evaluation of an outdoor play environment focusing on the needs of children with mobility disabilities and their families. It examines the life of the Kinsmen Play Village since its initial development, from various perspectives, including user groups such as design professionals, management, and children and their families. It examines the current literature on play and childhood development, children's playgrounds, universal design and evaluation.; This study reveals evolutionary changes in the Play Village that have significantly altered the nature of the space. Initially, the playground provided access and play opportunities for children with mobility disabilities. The changes that have been implemented over the past twenty years have been driven by maintenance, safety and liability issues, issues that currently define the nature of many children's outdoor play spaces. As a result, play opportunities for children with mobility disabilities have been drastically reduced and these children and their families have all but been excluded from the playground. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
