Austin’s Best Sensory and Accessibility Friendly Places For Kids

In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best playgrounds and parks in Austin that are ensuring every child gets to play, explore, and enjoy the outdoors to their heart’s content. Here are a few of Austin’s Best Sensory and Accessibility Friendly Places for kids.

** A special thank you to Angie Gwinn and Laura Standefer for helping me write this post!

Austin’s Best Sensory and Accessibility Friendly Places For Kids

Playgrounds

All Abilities Playground at Onion Creek Metropolitan Park

Austin’s first all abilities playground recently announced that they will be opening an all abilities playground at Onion Creek Metro Park. The planned playground is designed to be fully accessible and inclusive, catering particularly to children with disabilities and special needs. It will highlight cutting-edge design elements and a variety of programming options, creating a friendly and engaging space for everyone. The playground will encompass an area for inclusive play, accessible restroom amenities, and shaded picnic areas. Additionally, it will incorporate driveway access and parking, advanced stormwater management techniques, regular upkeep strategies, and pathways that connect to the surrounding park and community. Click here to read more.

Southeast Metropolitan Park

The new playground can be tricky to find. When you enter the park, take your first right. Then follow the road allllll the way down (it’s a very long road) til it ends. You will begin to wonder if you are on the right road. You are. The playground is down by some walking paths and there’s a parking lot and a bathroom nearby. This revamped space has been carefully designed to be both functional and fun, ensuring that kids of all abilities have a chance to play, learn, and grow together. The floor is soft and children in wheelchairs can smoothly roll onto platforms and access various play structures without hindrance.

Play For All Abilities Park in Round Rock

Nestled in Round Rock, just a short drive from Austin, the Play for All Abilities Park is a pioneer in accessible play spaces. This park is equipped with a wide range of play equipment tailored for children with various disabilities, including autism, hearing impairments, and physical challenges.

Highlights include:

• 8 accessible parking spaces
• Double gated entrances into play areas
• Paved paths and solid rubber surface into most all areas of the park
• Multiple types of accessible swings, including wheelchair swing 
• Accessible play town and racetrack
• Accessible bathrooms and picnic tables 

Beverly Sheffield Northwest District Park

This park has some notable features such as:

• Two accessible parking spaces on each parking lot. 
• Paved path to playscapes from both lots
• Solid rubber surface to two sides of large playscape and swings (other areas are mulch) 
• Ramped entrance onto the larger playscape
• Solid rubber surface to small playscape (no ramp onto playscape)
• Accessible toilets 

A few things to note that might be a challenge at this park:

• No accessible swings 
• Picnic tables are through grass/dirt
• Slopes from parking are a little steep, likely okay, but probably not ADA. 

Brentwood Neighborhood Park

Brentwood Neighborhood Park is a delightful spot where all kids can play! Here’s a few of their most accessible features:

• One accessible space 
• Ramped entrance onto playscape
• Paved path along interior of park (crushed granite exterior)
• Accessible bathrooms 
• Paved access to covered picnic area with 4 tables

Non-accessible challenges:

• No accessible swings and access to swings is through mulch 
• Bigger kid structures are all in mulch with no accessible features 

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park 

We love the updated playground at this park. What makes it accessible for all are the following features:

• 5 accessible spaces 
• Plus 2 more at trail entrance 
• Ramped entrance into natural play area. 
• Paved entrance to tree shaded picnic area (2 ADA tables)
• Solid rubber surface upto large play structure and wood climbing structure 
• Accessible access to spinning ride 
• A larger picnic area across the street has 2 more parking spots plus ramped access to a large shaded picnic structure and basketball courts (8 ADA tables)
• 6.5 miles of accessible walking/biking trails close by 

Non-accessible challenges:

• None of the structures have other accessible features 
• Mulch access to swings 

Dick Nichols District Park

Features for all abilities include:

• Accessible spaces 
• Ramped entrance onto large playscape 
• Paved access to covered picnic area 
• Paved access to tennis courts
• Accessible bathrooms
• Paved trail around the park 
• Accessible splash pad 

Non-accessible challenges:

• None of the structures have other accessible features 
• Mulch access to swings and rest of playscapes

Bonus Park That’s Worth The Drive: Morgan’s Wonderland– Amusement park, Playground & Water Park, San Antonio

This park is FREE for persons with disabilities (!!!) and is truly a magical place. Highlights include:

• Ample accessible parking
• Every ride/attraction is fully accessible for all abilities
• Water wheelcahairs provided for waterpark
• Staff trained to assist with access 

Sensory-Friendly Options and More in Austin

Alamo for All

Alamo Drafthouse- Alamo for All shows starting before 2 pm on Tuesdays follow Alamo for All rules, with select showings on the weekends and additional days at Lakeline, Mueller and Slaughter Lane. Schedule may vary during holidays. Lights are turned up and sound is turned down, All ages are welcome (including infants), Talking and noise is allowed and guests can move around, Latecomers are admitted, Adaptive technology is welcome (but no other electronics, please).

Thinkery

Specific days/times for Sensory Friendly Hour and Immunocompromised Hour, plus special accommodations on regular days at Thinkery. Thinkery is fully wheelchair accessible. Elevator access is available on both floors. A limited number of wheelchairs and sound-reducing headphones are available for check out. Sensory backpacks are also available with sunglasses, sound-reducing headphones, and a calming toy.

Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center

The Wildflower Center’s Central Complex, Central Gardens, and Luci and Ian Family Garden are wheelchair accessible. The Arboretum Trail and Roadrunner Trail are also wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs are available for guests to borrow at no charge at the Admissions Kiosk.

Sensory Friendly Sundays at Chuck E. Cheese

Chuck E. Cheese. Sensory Sensitive Sundays™ program, participating locations open two hours early on the first Sunday of the month. They offer a quieter environment, dimmed lighting, and a trained and caring staff to ensure each guest has a safe, fun-filled visit.

Little Land Play Gym

Little Land is unlike any other play place, with their soft music and unique equipment designed by pediatric therapists. They have locations in Buda, Cedar Park, Georgetown, and more.

Duke’s Adventure Golf

Duke’s Adventure Golf has 10 holes that are wheelchair accessible.

Performances at Zach Theater

Sensory friendly performances and wheelchair accessible. ZACH Theatre is proud to be one of the most accessible theatres in Austin, accessible seating in all three venues. ZACH offers Sensory Friendly performances for most Family Series shows designed especially for individuals on the Autism spectrum, those with sensory sensitivities, or anyone who might benefit from a supported and relaxed theatre environment.

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