This section provides some examples for best practice principles used in the planning, design and development of sport facilities.
Universal Design
Centre for Universal Design Australia
The aim of Universal Design Australia is to create a more inclusive world through design so that all people are considered regardless of age, capability or background.
The Queensland Government’s Get in the Game guide provides a list of design principles that are important to be considered when developing new infrastructure including Universal Design.
Get in the Game 2018-2020 - Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing
The 7 Principles of Universal Design - NDA
The NDA Centre for Excellence in Universal Design describes the seven principles of Universal Design.
Planning for equitable access - Sport and Recreation Victoria
Compares Universal Design with Equitable Access and details the seven principles of Universal Design.
Planning for universal design - Sport and Recreation Victoria
Universal Design is a design philosophy that ensures that products, buildings, environments and experiences are innately accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of their age, level of ability, cultural background, or any other differentiating factors that contribute to the diversity of our communities.
Everyone Can Play: Everyone Can Play is a best practice resource for councils, community leaders, landscape architects and passionate local residents. It is a reference guide for creating world-class playspaces, designed to include everyone in the community.
Inclusive Design
Inclusive Design Principles are about putting people first. It's about designing for the needs of people with permanent, temporary, situational, or changing disabilities — all of us really. They are intended to give anyone involved in the design and development of community sport infrastructure a broad approach to inclusive design.
Accessible design (Regulations and Guidelines)
The Building Code of Australia (BCA) provides a set of measurable construction standards to be used in design and construction of new building work. In addition to the requirement for new work to comply with the BCA, in cases of existing buildings undergoing alterations and/or additions, some discretion is available for councils to require upgrading of the existing part of the building to meet the BCA, based on either fire safety or volume of work only.
Disability Sport Northern Ireland has produced a series of Design & Management Guidelines to help ensure that new or refurbished sports facilities, ranging in scale from pavilion buildings to sports stadia, are designed and managed to optimum levels of good practice in terms of access for people with disabilities.
Design & Management Guidelines (2010) - Access to Sport Facilities For People With Disabilities - Prepared by Disability Sports NI jointly with Sport Northern Ireland
Other Design Resources
Active Design takes a fresh look at the opportunities to encourage and promote sport and physical activity through the design and layout of our built environment to support a step change towards healthier and more active lifestyles. The Ten Principles of Active Design are identified by drawing from urban design practice and practical examples to promote environments that offer individuals and communities the greatest potential to lead active and healthy lifestyles.
Active Design - Planning for health and wellbeing through sport and physical activity - Sport England (October 2015)
Access to facilities that support and enhance participation is critical for Women’s sports at all levels, from grassroots through to elite. Having female friendly sporting clubs sends an important message to all females, that they are welcome in their chosen sport, and that their club’s culture is one that will facilitate and support their participation.
See also:
Female Friendly Sports Infrastructure Guidelines References - Sport and Recreation Victoria
Female Friendly Change Rooms at Sporting Facilities - ACT Government
Wayfinding design guidelines, outlines a practical and comprehensive design method to wayfinding using an inclusive design approach. The guidelines assist designers as well as developers, property owners and property managers in identifying ways of improving access to, into and through their new or existing property, particularly buildings and large complex facilities. The material sources include expert knowledge from architects, landscape architects, lawyers, engineers, building surveyors, building regulators, access consultants, local expertise and persons with a disability.
Wayfinding design guidelines - supported by Queensland Disability Services (Queensland Gov)
The Western Sydney Parklands Design Manual outlines the general approach to planning and implementation of park infrastructure within the Western Sydney Parklands. It outlines the vision for the Parklands and its relationship to infrastructure planning, design, and implementation.
Western Sydney Parklands Design Manual - Western Sydney Parklands
Sense of Place - Healthy Active by Design
Walkable environments are required to enhance the sense of community and social capital by encouraging and facilitating social ties or community connections through opportunities for residents to meet, interact and engage in their neighbourhood. Mixed-use planning and the presence of a variety of destinations also promote walking which in turn increases the sense of community or social capital through the facilitation of interaction between residents.
Healthy Active by Design Checklists - Healthy Active by Design
Designing for dignity should be part of every urban regeneration project. After all, thriving, vibrant places are the heart and soul of community and citizenship, where all people feel connected and included in all their diversity.
Design for Dignity guidelines - Design for Dignity