Frameworks to analyse accessibility of public recreational spaces for persons with disabilities: a rapid scoping review

Abstract

ABSTRACT The global population currently struggles to meet the physical activity guidelines. This is exacerbated for persons with disabilities (PWD). There is increasing acknowledgement of the need for recreational public spaces to be accessible and provide opportunities for physical activity. Designing and evaluating facilities requires tools and frameworks that capture diversity and consider access beyond the physical environment. Through a rapid scoping review, we sought to describe peer-reviewed literature that developed or implemented frameworks (conceptual or analytical) to analyse access for PWD in public recreational spaces. A comprehensive literature search on Web of Science was conducted. Studies were included if published in English between 2005 and 2025 and developed or implemented a framework to assess the inclusivity of public recreational spaces for PWD. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were independently screened by two reviewers. Reference lists of included papers were searched. Relevant papers were extracted. Of 872 identified papers, 42 underwent full-text review, and 20 (16 from the original search and 4 from reference lists) were included. All were based in middle- and high-income countries. Most used an established framework rather than developing their own. Frameworks were categorised as conceptual or analytical, with most being analytical. Inclusion of PWD in framework use or design was not consistently stated. All but one framework focused on the needs of people with physical disabilities. Ensuring access to public parks for persons with disabilities is an overlooked strategy to increasing recreational physical activity, particularly in low-income countries. Current frameworks need testing and adaptation for these contexts.