Power off together as a family—A special feature on Taipei’s five inclusive parks

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Not long ago, both Taipei and New Taipei were promoting the concept of “Play for All,” opening the doors of playgrounds to everyone—seniors and people with disabilities are no longer excluded from park facilities. The “inclusive park” is a perfect example.

So, what is an inclusive park? Simply put,it was initiated by a group of moms to make parks friendly play spaces that blend local characteristics and are co-designed with community residents.As a result, local teams have also started focusing on urban renewal, transforming playgrounds from cookie-cutter designs, allowing kids to have more fun in play spaces.

What are you waiting for? Come meet some playgrounds where your kids can have fun and let off steam.

The “Dancing Butterfly Inclusive Playground” is located within the Yuanshan Flower Expo Park. The entire park is designed around the theme of “insects,” featuring many caterpillar- and butterfly-shaped play equipment and decorations. Kids are sure to get excited seeing such colorful designs.

Covering an area of 2,000 ping, the “Dancing Butterfly Inclusive Playground” has sandpits, climbing nets, slides, nest swings, and wheelchair-accessible swings for children with mobility difficulties. The most eye-catching feature is definitely the “caterpillar play wall,” which reportedly offers eight types of puzzle-like activities to try. Parents, remember to line up early on weekends—it’s extremely popular.

The playground floor is covered with artificial turf, so it’s comfortable even for bare feet. Underneath the climbing nets is wood chip mulch, which gives off a faint wood scent. Cleaning aunties often come to tidy up, so hygiene is not a concern. Overall, the “Dancing Butterfly Inclusive Playground” has novel facilities and a uniquely stylish layout—you won’t get tired of visiting again and again.

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Address: No. 1, Yumen St., Zhongshan District, Taipei City 10491
Transportation info: Exit 1 of Yuanshan MRT Station, about a 10-minute walk
Opening hours: Open 24 hours

Hidden in bustling Tianmu, the “Tianmu Donghe Park” is tucked away on a hillside. The rich flora and fauna ecosystem stretching from Yangmingshan isolates it from the noisy city sounds. It’s highly recommended for those looking to enjoy a quiet and relaxing holiday with their kids.

The “Tianmu Donghe Park” is designed as a “challenging” playground suitable for children aged 4 and above. It uses wood chip flooring instead of traditional plastic, adding a more natural interactive element. The park features metal slides, large combination climbing frames, spinning bars, and other play equipment. Families can take on challenges together, immersing themselves in nature-inspired play structures while also teaching their kids about nature.

Address: Intersection of Lane 69, Tianshang E. Rd., and Lane 14, Section 7, Zhongshan N. Rd., Shilin District, Taipei City
Transportation info: Take bus 279, 285, 606, 616, 645, 646, or Red 12, get off at Qizhi School Stop, then walk uphill along Lane 69, Tianshang E. Rd.
Opening hours: Open 24 hours

A playground designed by kids?! What would that kind of park be like? You could ask your little one what play equipment they’d include if they designed it—but I bet their answer would be: “Everything!”

That’s right. The “Rongxing Garden” is the most feature-rich inclusive park among all, offering an unbounded sandbox with sandbox toys, a mountain-shaped terrazzo slide, a spinning chair, a high-difficulty red rope course, and more. One particularly unique feature is the “mountain-shaped terrazzo slide,” which is actually a hill with six different ways to climb up and down—you can choose stairs, a climbing rope, a climbing net, pole jumping, a slide, or sliding down artificial turf. The overall design is truly ingenious.

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Additionally, the “Rongxing Garden” thoughtfully provides many resting and shaded spots for seniors, allowing adults to relax while the kids go wild. There are also plenty of lawn areas for picnics and family rest. Just bring a picnic mat and lunch, and you can easily spend the whole day at the “Rongxing Garden.”

Address: No. 1, Section 3, Minquan East Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Transportation: Take the Muzha Line of the Taipei Metro to Zhongshan Junior High School Station, then walk west along Minquan East Road toward the Longjiang Road intersection to reach the destination.
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours a day

As New Taipei City’s first inclusive park, “Taishan Guizi Children’s Park” has lived up to expectations as a popular weekend destination for both adults and children. Themed around “children,” the entire park is filled with playful elements, featuring numerous inclusive play facilities (such as climbing nets, spinning cups, and rocking toys). However, its most distinctive feature lies in its design centered on “sustainability.”

The most unique aspect of “Taishan Guizi Children’s Park” is its specially landscaped garden. The entire park utilizes an air-conditioning drainage pavement demonstration system, which not only enables water resource recycling but also revitalizes soil and improves air pollution, among other benefits. In terms of environmental decoration, there are many insect-themed ecological illustrations, allowing children to learn some ecological knowledge while playing. This reflects the educational significance of “Taishan Guizi Children’s Park” in terms of safety, sustainability, ecology, environmental protection, energy conservation, and carbon reduction.

Address: No. 24, Lane 74, Section 3, Mingzhi Road, Taishan District, New Taipei City 243
Transportation: Take a bus to “Taishan Rock” or “Mingzhi Elementary School” stations, then walk about 3 minutes from the lane entrance to arrive

What?! You can head straight to an inclusive playground right after school? How come we didn’t have something this awesome when we were kids?!

Located within Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City, at Si Xian Elementary School, this is Taiwan’s first campus-integrated inclusive playground park. It was created to support the recreational rights of special education students, aiming to let these children enjoy playtime just like everyone else. As such, you’ll find some specially designed play equipment, such as low-to-the-ground swings and enclosed swings, ensuring that special education students can participate safely and happily.

Si Xian Elementary School also incorporates many science-themed elements, such as a white flower-shaped whispering tube and the very unique “inclusive multi-person spinning cup.” None of the equipment has a fixed way to be played with—children are free to use their imagination and play however they like.

Since the location is within a school campus, the park includes amenities like running tracks and basketball courts, though visitors should pay close attention to the opening hours to avoid disappointment.

Address: No. 229, Zili Street, Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City 242
Transportation: Bus 299, 99 at Zhonghua Road & Zili Street Intersection; Bus 618, 257 at Zhonggang Road & Fuxing Road Intersection<
Opening Hours:
1. Weekdays: 5:00 AM to 7:00 AM; 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM
2. Saturdays and Sundays: 5:00 AM to 7:00 AM; 1:30 PM to 6:00 PM
3. Holidays and winter/summer vacations: 5:00 AM to 7:00 AM; 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

If you like this theme, feel free to follow the You Education fan page. The You Education website will launch on April 16th, offering more high-quality summer camp programs for parents to choose from with peace of mind.