Designing Inclusive Gardens

“Universal Design is a design that is usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.”
– Ron Mace

Gardens and outdoor spaces should be created so everyone, no matter their ability, size, age, background, etc, can enjoy time outside with friends and family comfortably. By creating accessible gardens, people with a broad range of abilities can experience the mental, emotional, and physical benefits of being out in nature and connecting with friends and loved ones in their garden spaces. While each property and those using it will ultimately inform each individual design and its details, there are key elements that should be considered when designing inclusive gardens.

Mobility

• Slopes & Stairs: Eliminate or reduce the number of stairs where possible. If a slope is too steep to avoid using stairs, consider swapping them out for a ramp. If stairs must be used, split them up into groups of 2-3 and include handrails for extra support and safety.
• Surfaces: Smooth materials with good traction should be used for paths and patios. Pavers, concrete, and compacted gravel are good options. If wheelchairs, walkers, scooters, or other wheeled devices may be used in the garden, a binding resin, like Klingstone, can be sprayed on compacted gravel paths to keep the gravel from shifting and moving around.
• Shapes & Width: Curved paths allow people who use wheelchairs to get around spaces easier while a more geometric design may be better suited for those with visual impairments so it’s important to know who you’re designing for. A general rule of thumb is to design paths to be least 4 feet wide, but 5 to 6 feet wide will comfortably fit a person who uses a wheelchair and another person walking next to them. An extra wide path is also helpful if a riding mower or other maintenance equipment is used regularly. Consider maintaining similar widths, if possible, around patio dining tables and other furniture so everyone can get around objects easily.

Visual

• High Contrast: Provide high contrast to patio and path edges and other transition areas. Having both visual and tactile cues will help reduce trip hazards in the garden. Different colored paving materials, brightly colored plants, and landscape lighting can all work to highlight these transition areas.
• Glare: Eliminate glare from the sun and elements in the garden with shade trees, large shrubs, pergolas/arbors, and subtle lighting. Pay particular attention to elements such as windows, wet patios or paths, light colored materials, and water features.
• Blinking Effects: Blinking or direct lights should be avoided for those with visual stimulation concerns. Keep lights pointed away from foliage that could move in the wind and cause a blinking or strobing effect.
• Lighting: Outdoor lighting extends how long everyone can use the outdoor space together. Paths, patios, steps, decks, and all entrances/exits should be well lit. Light fixtures should be pointed downward or have some type of shield to reduce glare.

Auditory

• Creating Privacy: Water features, even small bubblers placed near a common sitting area, can provide simple, consistent noise that blocks unwanted traffic noise or noise from nearby neighbors. Some plants, like ornamental grasses and Quaking Aspens, are known for swishing and rustling noises when a breeze passes by while others attract pollinators and the familiar sound of bumblebees.
• Navigation: Auditory garden features like windchimes can signal a transition from one area to another for those with visual impairments. Different sounding materials for paths and patios can also alert someone to a transition (i.e. taking a step from a concrete patio onto a compacted gravel path will have 2 distinct sounds)
• Conversation Areas: In some areas of the garden, you may need the opposite. Layering in any more noise may make it extra difficult to hear others talking so minimizing outside noise will be important. Plants as a sound barrier can work well in this instance.

Wayfinding & Signs

• One Entrance: For people with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, walking has been shown to be beneficial. For them to feel safest and fully enjoy their garden, paths should be designed in simple, circular loops or figure-8s with one entrance. This combination of features deters wandering off and gives clear landmarks/boundaries.
• Line of Sight: Providing a clear, visual line of sight for entrances and exits, grade changes, and other key parts of the gardens is essential for people with cognitive disabilities and for people who are hard of hearing who may rely on sign language.
• Signs & Sculptures: Easy to read signs and tactile signs help people of all abilities move confidently and safely through larger gardens. Sculptures and other art pieces strategically placed throughout the garden can also act as wayfinding tools for people to tell where they are in the garden.

Seating & Rest

• Provide a combination of built-in/fixed and lightweight movable seating options so that seating can be moved under the shade as needed throughout the day/seasons.
• Provide a variety of seating options that include benches (backrests vs none), chairs with armrests, different heights (bar stools vs Adirondack chairs), flat-topped boulders, hammocks, etc.
• Placement: Sitting out under intense sun or the pouring rain isn’t usually anyone’s idea of relaxing. Place seating under covered structures or large shade trees to encourage everyone to gather in those spaces. If there are long paths throughout the garden, carving out a small seating area for a bench or 2 chairs along the path can create natural rest points along the way.

Water

• Sound: Water features, big or small, can help create privacy, provide landmarks, and provide a soothing sensory experience in the garden.
• Touch: Water feels so nice on a hot day and when placed at the right height, small children, people who use wheelchairs, or those with limited movement, can reach out to feel the water trickle down the side of a stone or into a small pond.

Plants

• Multi-Season Interest: A plant palette that shows off its colors and interest in all 4 seasons will provide sensory experiences year-round and will increase time spent outside further into the year.
• High Contrast: High contrast and complimentary plantings placed at transition points in the garden help people with low vision with wayfinding and navigation.
• Toxic & Thorny Plants: Eliminate toxic and thorny plants from the plant palette to keep garden spaces safe for all. This will also encourage more engagement within the garden if everyone knows the plants are all safe to be near.
• Raised Planters: For people using wheelchairs and other mobility devices or with limited movement, raised planters puts plants at a better height for edible gardening, cut flowers, or ornamental gardening. Planters come in all different heights, styles, and materials to accommodate a wide range of abilities and aesthetic preferences.

An outdoor space that welcomes everyone to gather and experience nature together benefits everyone. Inclusive gardens are intentional and functional while also being calming, engaging, and important platforms for companionship, celebration, friendship, and family.

~Colleen