The project aimed at enhancing accessibility and promoting inclusive design in Văcărești Natural Park to ensure that individuals with visual and hearing disabilities can engage with and enjoy this public space. We began by assessing the accessibility of the park, focusing on how visually and hearing-impaired individuals navigate from the nearest metro station to the park. Key questions included how these individuals locate the park entrance and orient themselves once inside. This initial analysis phase also involved evaluating the website and app of the Văcărești Natural Park Association (APNV) to determine how user-friendly and accessible they are for people with disabilities. We explored which navigation apps are most effective for reaching the park and how accurate they are, which were critical questions in understanding the digital accessibility of the park.

Central to the approach was the principle that the best solutions for accessibility and inclusive design emerge from directly involving those who will benefit most—individuals with visual and hearing impairments. To this end, the team was composed of experts from various fields, including architecture, programming, and landscape architecture, working alongside professional and expert citizens with sensory impairments. This collaboration provided invaluable insights into the specific needs and challenges faced.

Several test routes were conducted with people with disabilities to identify specific obstacles they encounter on their way to the park from the Timpuri Noi metro station and within the park itself. The feedback gathered revealed significant issues, such as the inaccessibility of the route from the metro to the park for wheelchair users due to elevation differences between pedestrian areas and the road. Additionally, parked cars on sidewalks and crosswalks were identified as major obstacles for people with disabilities. The main entrance to the park was noted to require clearer visual and tactile markers, as well as a more inclusive layout. Within the park, the need for more directional and informational signage was highlighted. Moreover, the points of interest in the park’s app were found to be difficult to access using a screen reader and lacked precise location information.

Following this analysis, we distributed a survey via social media to gather broader input from various park visitors, including parents with young children, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the needs and expectations of different user groups. The survey also aimed to identify reasons why some individuals have not yet visited the park, providing insights into potential barriers to access.

This detailed analysis is just the beginning of a long-term and complex process aimed at making the Biodiversity Trail and the entire park more accessible. The overarching goal is to improve the built, natural, and digital environments within the park, ensuring that people with disabilities have equal opportunities to enjoy these spaces.

The analysis is public to share best practices with other architects and landscape architects, encouraging a broader adoption of inclusive design principles: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uo2LB4ygh_x_3qPGH7Kklz0Wotbdajw9/view