Based on a proposal from the City of Murcia,and within a neighborhood rehabilitation plan carried out in 2017,the Association of People With Autistic Disorder – Asteamur collaborated in the project advising the architects and technicians of the city council and in the design of the posters and pictography of the first park adapted with pictograms of the city of Murcia.

Among the beauties that the city of Murcia presents within its architecture in parks and gardens, we find a cozy and quiet place, which due to its simplicity and design could become an “accessible and friendly” space for people with ASD. We refer to theCristo Resucitado Park, a place where nature, water and leisure can mix to create a pleasant environment.

The design of this park is based on the concept of AUTISM FRIENDLY SPACES. It is a model of architectural construction of buildings and public spaces that tries to respect the different way in which people with ASD process information from their senses. Its methodology is to include environmental elements that help the person with ASD to structure, organize and face an environment in a less chaotic and more relaxed way, with the main objective of improving their well-being.

Many studies in this field show that managing factors such as lighting, shapes, textures, furniture, acoustics, air conditioning or color in a “friendly” way, achieve a more adapted and calm development of the child ASD.

Therefore, the design of this park is characterized by:

• Being surrounded by a fence with several access doors and therefore it is a secluded place.
• It is not close to main roads, which makes it a quiet space.
• It has a water fountain and several benches where you can sit as a family.
• It has a leisure playground.
• It has some steps where to carry out public activities.

This part of the project in which the Association of Autistic Disorder People – Asteamur has collaborated, focuses mainly on the pictography and signage of the park:

• Pictography of the spaces and elements of the park: using the pictograms of the Aragonese Portal of Augmentative and Alternative Communication ARASAAC, we will identify each space and element, in order to transmit to the person with ASD visual, coherent and simple information that helps them understand their interaction with the medium.
• Sequential pictography of the use of the park facilities: using the same pictograms we will create sequences of activities that can be carried out with each element of the park or pictographed social stories that help the learning of certain concepts that we want to highlight.
• Floor marking: It consists of marking the park floor through its different corridors to take the person with ASD to each area, identified with different colors (green line = gardens; blue line = fountain; red line = park).

This adapted and accessible park, once completed, will befun and stimulating for children with and without disabilities, but it will have added value since its objective is the integration of functional diversity. In addition, play and interaction with the environment is the great learning toolin childhood, and thanks to adapted and inclusive parks, the opportunity to socialize and have fun in a normalized way is offered.

A fantastic initiative that can be replicated in other playgrounds to facilitate the inclusion of all people!