The Catherine Street Inclusive Park in Dumfries has been celebrated as a shining example of how to create safe, accessible and inclusive public spaces for children, in a new guide by the World Health Organization, UNICEF and UN-Habitat.
The inspiring story of this park began nearly a decade ago. Local families with disabled children voiced a desperate need for an accessible area where all kids could play together, regardless of their physical abilities. Driven by a strong vision, the community successfully campaigned to take ownership of the land in 2019, transforming it into a vibrant, welcoming haven.
Today, the park features a wheelchair-accessible roundabout, a wheelchair swing, sensory play opportunities, and accessible seating, all connected by a smooth, circular pathway. It’s a space designed so that children of all abilities can play side-by-side with their siblings and friends.
“It demonstrates how local, community-driven initiatives can inform international policy and practice,” says Dr Andrzej Zieleniec, chairman of Include Us, the charity running the park.
The park proves that transformative urban design doesn't require a massive budget.
Lisa Callander-Bone, the park’s development manager, says it shows “that when communities come together with purpose and imagination, we can create places that change lives”.
If you are planning a trip there, you can find its exact location on the Include Us website.
Photo: Includeus.org.uk
