design for

barrier free
environment
RECREATIONAL PARKS
What is a Barrier-Free Environment ?
 A space that allows for free and safe movement, function and access for all, regardless of age,
sex or condition.
 A set of services that can be accessed by all, without obstacles, with dignity and with as much
independence as possible.
 The environment means buildings, roads, parks, gardens and other places, services, modes of
transportation, products of daily use, etc.
 It must be clearly understood that barrier–free goes far beyond just a ramp and has many
other necessary aspects. These range from door and passage widths to flooring surfaces, from
counter heights to door handles and railings, from signage and auditory signals to tactile guides.
Understanding
We are all physically disabled at some time in our lives. A child, a person with a broken
leg, an elderly person, etc. are all disabled in one way or another. As far as the built-up
environment is concerned, it is important that it should be barrier-free and adapted to fulfil the
needs of all people equally.

o As a child what we fantasised the most ?

To see above our height, i.e. we wanted to break our barrier and for this we were
dependent on our guardians. We didn’t need to tell them , they already knew to pick us up and
help us look beyond the barrier.

Just like that we too need to take care of persons who are differently abled. They don’t
need to tell us to help them. They don’t need to.
ACT
After the enactment of “The Person with Disabilities Act (Equal Opportunities, Protection of
Rights and Full participation), 1995 by Govt. of India.” There is a provision of Act under “Non
discriminate in the built environment” Chapter VIII Section 46.

The Act stipulates that the Governments, local authorities ensure provisions of
barrier-free facilities in all new Government buildings and public utilities, roads and transport.

We, as committed and concerned professionals, should take up this responsibility of

addressing these issues and demonstrate through our work the benefits of a barrier-free
environment.
WHO ALL FACE BARRIERS?
 Wheelchair users
 People with limited walking/ movement
abilities
 People with visual impairment or low vision
 People with hearing impairment
 Elderly and infirm persons
 Pregnant ladies
 Children
 People with temporary disabilities
WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO REMOVE
BARRIERS?
o Barriers make an environment unsafe and
cause a high level of difficulty to the user.
o But more importantly, barriers cause spaces
to be out of reach, denying people the
opportunity of participation in various spheres
of life.
o This loss of opportunity is not only a loss for
the person concerned but also society’s loss
which misses out on their contribution.
Signages
 Provisions
• Signage should be placed at nodal positions, openly and

Height
prominently.
• Should be simple in syntax and must be well lit in
ambient lowlight conditions.
• If the signage is floor based and free standing, then
there should be a detectable barrier at the floor level for Distance
the white stick users.
• In the case of multiple access points, each access point
should indicate the shortest route to the accessible
entry.
• Letters and numbers on signs shall have a width-to-
height ratio between 3:5 and 1:1 and a stroke-width-to-
height ratio between 1:5 and 1:10.
• Characters and symbols shall contrast with their
background Mounting height for Signages

Signages
Approachability
Parking
 At the entrance of public parking
facilities, signage should be
displayed in prominent positions to
indicate the designated numbers of
the parking spaces reserved for
persons with a disability.
 The parking space shall be clearly
marked with the international
symbol of accessibility and the
parking space number on the floor.

Approachability
Provisions

Approachability
VEHICLES MUST PARK IN ALTERNATE DIRECTION IN
ORDER TO UTILIZE HATCHED AREA

Approachability
Kerbs

Approachability
Ramps
 Any part of an accessible route with a slope greater than 1:20 shall be considered a ramp.
 The least possible slope shall be used for any ramp. The maximum slope of a ramp in a new
construction shall be 1:12.
 Ramps shall have level landings at bottom and top of each ramp and each ramp run, and at
every 10 m of run.
 The minimum clear width of a ramp shall be 900 mm.
 The landing shall be at least as wide as the ramp run leading to it.
 The landing length shall be a minimum of 1500 mm clear.
If ramps change direction at landings, the minimum landing size shall be 1500 mm x 1500
mm.

Approachability
Provisions .

Approachability
Approachability
Entrance
o There should be no difference in level around an approach to a park and/or park roads. If
a level difference is unavoidable, a ramp or a staircase plus a ramp is needed.

o A level landing should be provided before and after the change in level.

o Bollards should be provided with adequate spacing for the wheel chair bound persons i.e.
900mm min.

o An information board with information about the facility should be provided for persons
with impaired hearing.

Approachability
Reality

S.K. Puri Park: Patna S.K. Puri Park: Patna

Approachability
Accessibility
Service Counters
 Should be designed for parallel approach
with a height of 800 mm from the finished
floor level.
 Must be 1200 mm wide and 500 mm deep.
 It should have a knee space at least 750 mm
high, 900 mm wide and 450 mm deep.
 It should have a minimum of 1200 mm x 900
mm space in front of the counter for
manoeuvring.

Accessibility
Reality
• The counter is located at a high point
where only abled people can access.
• Even children have trouble asking for
tickets.
• The person sitting behind the counter is
also not visible clearly.
• Wheel chair bound person will not be able
to buy ticket, due to the unreachable
height.
S.K. Puri Park: Patna

Accessibility
Telephone
 A clear floor or ground space at least 750 mm
x 1200 mm that allows either a forward or
parallel approach by a person using a
wheelchair shall be provided at telephones.
 The cord from the telephone to the handset
shall be at least 750 mm long.
 Volume controls, capable of a minimum of 12
dB and a maximum of 18 dB above normal,
shall be provided. If an automatic reset is
provided then 18 dB may be exceeded.

Accessibility
Access Path /Walk Way
o Access path from plot entry and surface parking to
building entrance shall be minimum of 1800 mm
wide having even surface without any step.
o Slope, if any shall not have gradient greater than
5%.
o Selection of floor material shall be made suitably to
attract or to guide visually impaired persons.
o Finishes shall have a nonslip surface with texture
traversable by a wheel chair.
o Curbs wherever provided should blend to common
level.

Accessibility
Accessibility
Accessibility
Reality

S.K. Puri Park: Patna S.K. Puri Park: Patna

Accessibility
Benches
In Parks 20% of sitting benches should be
provided for various types of disabled like
old citizens, meeting the criteria.

Accessibility
Reality

S.K. Puri Park: Patna S.K. Puri Park: Patna

Accessibility
Tables
• The table’s one side should
be extended so as to fit the
wheelchair inside it.
• The width should be 760
mm min.

Accessibility
Gratings
 If gratings are located in walking surfaces,
then they shall have spaces no greater
than 12 mm wide in one direction.

 If gratings have elongated openings, then

they shall be placed so that the long
dimension is perpendicular to the
dominant direction of travel.

Accessibility
Tactile
o Immediately in front of a location where there
is a vehicular traffic.
o Immediately in front of an entrance/exit to
and from a staircase or multilevel crossing
facility.
o In a park, on the walk way so that they can
follow the tactile and move from one place to
other.
o At a junction of pathways, a signboard should
also be provided, so that they could know
which direction has what.

Accessibility
Accessibility
View of a community space
having guiding blocks installed.

Accessibility
Lighting

Accessibility
 Reality
• The light provided here is
not glare and is also not
sufficient enough to light this
area of the park.
• The height of the light post is
2.7 m.

S.K. Puri Park: Patna

Accessibility
Recreational
Activities
Swimming Pool

Recreational
Side Elevation of ramp and
stairs

Recreational
Fishing

Recreational
Basket Ball
o For wheelchair people, the height of
the hoops can be adjusted.
o Later on this can be used as a
normal basketball court also by
adjusting the height again.
o It is heighted at 2.7m from ground
level.

Recreational
Play Equipment
• Height of the platform is 310mm.

Recreational
Cantilevered Platforms
• The min diameter for this type of
platform is 1500mm so that
wheelchair is able to circulate in
it.
• Hand rails are provided in
accordance with the provisions.

Accessibility
Reality

Eco Park: Patna

Expectation

Accessibility
Light and sound
o In a park a good practice is to ensure that
every one who visits has something to
remember about that park later on.

o So, a great way to ensure that is to provide

light and sound show in the park.

Buddha Smriti Park: Patna

Recreational
Water Fountains (Drinking)
o Allow sufficient space around the water
fountain to make it easily accessible for wheel
chair users.
o Depending on the type of water fountain allow
a space about 750 mm high and 400 mm deep
under the fountain.

Accessibility
Reality

Eco Park: Patna S.K. Puri Park: Patna

Accessibility
Dustbins

Accessibility
Toilet Cubicles
 Entrance should be in accordance of the
barrier free.
 These must be equipped with the western
water closet as opposed to the Indian-style
pan.
 Internal dimensions must not be less than
1500 mm x 1500 mm, with a clear space not
less than 900 mm wide next to the water
closet.

Accessibility
 Reality

• The entry in this case is not barrier free.

• A wheelchair bound person will have
difficulties in accessing the toilet cubical.

S.K. Puri Park: Patna

Accessibility
WC
o It must be equipped with grab-bars.
o Tap/ toilet roll dispenser mounted below it at not
more than 300 mm from the front edge of the
seat.
o It should be at a height between 50 mm and 250
mm from the top of the water closet seat.
o The top edge of the toilet seat should be 500 mm
from the finished floor level.

Accessibility
Urinals
They should be of the wall hung type with the rim not
more than 430 mm from the floor.
Clear floor space of 750 mm width x 1200 mm depth
without steps in front of it.
There should be vertical grab-bars on either side
extending from 900 mm to 1500 mm above finished floor
level and with a minimum of 120 mm between the bar
and the wall.
The flush, if manually operated, should be located
between 900 mm and 1200 mm from the finished floor
level.

Accessibility
Examples
Congress Avenue Park, U.S.A.
The Tennis Centre and Barrier Free Park were
built by the city of Boynton Beach.
Between the Tennis Centre and the lake is the
new barrier free (accessible) playground and
park.
There are three play areas for people with
differing abilities, a picnic pavilion, restroom,
picnic areas, a water play splash pad, trails, public
art, and native landscaping.
There are beautiful meandering walkways
throughout the park connecting several play Location :- 3111 S. congress Avenue Boynton Beach, FL 33436, U.S.A
areas, a picnic pavilion and a large open field. Website :- (http://www.boyntonbeach.org/departments/parks/index.php)
Play Area
 Two shade sails have been installed over the
spider web climbing structure and the Sway Fun
boat ride for fun all day long!

 The Swamp splash pad is just across the bridge

in the centre of the park with spraying cattails, a
frog mister and large alligator heads that peer
out of the ground and squirt water.
Fit Zone
 It is be comprised of machines for people of
varying abilities to exercise.
 Fitness Zones® are easy to use, accessible
outdoor gyms designed to promote general
health within a park experience, creating a
supportive social context for getting fit.
 Fitness Zones® require no electricity and
employ their user’s body weight to engage
different muscle groups.
 The Fitness Zone® at Barrier Free Park will
include 17 pieces of exercise equipment, five
of which are wheelchair accessible
Other Examples Are:-
o High Line Park (New York City, U.S.A.)
o Eifel National Park (North Rhine, Westphalia, Germany)
o KLCC Park (Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
Bibliography
•Handbook on Barrier Free (2014)
◦ C.P.W.D

•Accessibility Design Guidelines

• https//www.google.co.in
• https://en.wikipedia.org/
• Manual for a Barrier Free Built Environment (2014)
◦ UNNATI Foundation
Thank You!!
1305008 – Abhinav Prakash
1305012 – Vinod Yadav
1305018 – Kumar Abhinay
1305028 – Prakriti Payal