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New inclusive playground experience to be introduced in Tuen Mun Park (with photos)
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     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will introduce a new concept of inclusive play and barrier-free facilities to the children's playground in Tuen Mun Park. Relevant works commenced today (July 7) and the upgraded facilities are expected to be open for use in the third quarter of next year.

     The LCSD is committed to the provision of play equipment for all children to play together and acquire different skills for the balanced development of their mind and body. The Pilot Project on Inclusive Playground at Tuen Mun Park is a result of the joint collaboration and efforts by the LCSD, the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD) and various organisations. An inclusive playground aims to provide quality space for children of different ages and abilities to play without barriers. Through physical, sensory and social play experiences, children can take on challenges according to their abilities, interact with each other, accept challenges in a controlled play environment and explore the world around them.

     The Playright Children's Play Association, the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF HK) and the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects (HKILA) held the Inclusive Play Space Design Ideas Competition between February and October 2015 with the support of the LCSD, ArchSD and the Tuen Mun District Council. The participants of the competition were required to submit design ideas with inclusive play space layouts desirable for all children, using the children's playground of Tuen Mun Park as the competition site.

     After the competition, ArchSD adopted the winning concepts in the overall design of the enhancement works of the Park's children's playground. The design of the inclusive playground has two main themes, featuring elements of water and sand, and incorporates fun components and themed facilities for children of different ages and abilities. Facilities to be provided include Reptile Fun, Egg Hunter, Spinning Zone and Sensory Zone at the southern playground, and Flower Dew Plaza, Contour Play Zone and Musical Zone at the northern playground. Through sand, water, light and shadow, play equipment that sways and spins, climbing frames and movable parts for knocking and touching, children can have fun while achieving balanced development of their body and mind by acquiring different skills.

     The Deputy Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Leisure Services), Mr Raymond Fan; the Assistant Director of Architectural Services (Architectural), Mr Benny Chan; the Chairman of the Tuen Mun District Council, Mr Leung Kin-man; the Chairperson of the Executive Committee of Playright, Dr Chow Chun-bong; the Chairman of the Advocacy & Public Relations Committee of UNICEF HK, Miss Au King-chi; the Vice-President of the HKILA, Mr Paul Chan; and Advisory Committee Member of the Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation Mrs Justina Leung officiated at the ground-breaking ceremony held at Tuen Mun Park today.

     Upon completion of the enhancement works, the upgraded children's play facilities will offer an inclusive playing environment to residents in Tuen Mun and let park-goers have a brand new experience.

     During the works period, relevant groups will organise fun activities on weekends at Tuen Mun Park so that children in the neighbourhood will continue to have opportunities to play.

     Currently, the LCSD manages about 600 leisure venues with outdoor children's playgrounds, providing children's play equipment for children aged between 2 and 12. About 70 per cent of them are designed with diverse inclusive play elements which aim at promoting all-round development of children by giving them opportunities to play together. Members of the public may visit the LCSD website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/facilities/facilitieslist/children/playequipment.html) for details of the department's larger and featured children's inclusive playgrounds.

Ends/Thursday, July 7, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:16

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