Evaluation of Playgrounds in Terms of Universal Design: İzmir Karşıyaka Coast After İzmir Deniz Project

Abstract

Playgrounds are the areas that are specifically designed for children to play which are actually the places enable them to take part in the everyday life. In addition to taking place the quality of this participation is also important. For analysing the quality of these areas evaluating them in terms of Universal Design principles is one of the effective methods through seven parameters that enable to evaluate from the perspective of all different user profiles like children elderly disabled playgrounds can be analysed like their dimensions material usages whether they are meeting the needs of children from different ages or with different abilities and other design qualities specific to open public areas. As a case study the playgrounds located in İzmir Karşıyaka coast which was re-designed and re-arranged with İzmir Deniz Project were analysed. As a part of this project some playgrounds are re-generated whereas some of them are added. As a method of this study observations which will also be proved with photograph taking and analysis were used. It can be concluded that although the playgrounds in the area are just considered they cannot fulfil the needs of children completely especially with the focus of the universal design. © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.