Seven-year-old Zach Dove London used to love going to his grandparent's local park.
But that was before it was upgraded.
"I was just shocked. I was shocked that they made it worse instead of better," he said.
Brennan Park on Bribie Island, north of Brisbane, had recently undergone an $835,128 makeover to replace its equipment and improve accessibility and landscape.
Zach, who uses a wheelchair, said bark and wood chips were added beneath the playground equipment, which has stopped him from playing there.
He can only go a few pushes before his wheels are caught by the bark.
"I was trying to enter the park, and my wheel couldn't move," Zach said.
"I was completely stuck."
The young boy was determined not to have his fun end there and wrote a letter to the local politicians.
"I just felt that feeling, like this is not acceptable," Zach said.
The Moreton Bay Regional Council responded to the seven-year-old's letter, saying, "sometimes site challenges mean the designers cannot make a truly all-abilities play space."
The letter said due to the park's established tree, on advice from arborists, the final design could not compromise the health of the roots.
"Shade is critical for our playgrounds, particularly for children with special needs who have trouble regulating their body temperature," the letter reads.
Council also advised Zach and his mum that there are two local "all-abilities" playgrounds that would be "great spots to play."
Jessica Dove London, Zach's mum, said it was unfair that her family had been suggested to go to another park "45 minutes" away.
"My parents live here, so we come here all the time," she said.
Zach said he was also not impressed with their response.
"What sort of answer is that?" he said.
Council's commitment to accessibility
Moreton Bay Regional Council's Mayor Peter Flannery said he had reached out to the family and offered to investigate an "accessibility solution" for the playground.
"It upsets me to think a young boy has gone to one of our playgrounds and not been able to enjoy the day he had been looking forward to," Cr Flannery said.
He said the council always use soft fall materials beneath play equipment to maximise safety, allow water to pass through, and sustain the trees that provide shade for this equipment.
"I will get our staff to look at solutions for this location, maybe a porous pathway material that will enable easier wheelchair access to the play equipment," Cr Flannery said.
He said the council prides itself on being one of the most accessible areas in south-east Queensland, having promoted the state government's year of accessible tourism — a campaign aimed at improving infrastructure and technology for visitors with disabilities.
"I would love our 2032 legacy to be one that brings our accessibility standards up to par, or better than, anywhere else in the world," the mayor said in November, when the program was announced.
Cr Flannery said 20 per cent of the region's population had a disability.
"So, providing accessible infrastructure for everyone is something very close to my heart," he said.
The council said it was still committed to the year of accessible tourism.
Parks for the whole community
Ms Dove London said accessibility makes everything better for everyone.
"I actually, honestly, in 2023, can't believe you are allowed to make a park that's not for the whole community," she said.
"Parks are created for the community, so if parts of the community can't be part of that, then it's just really exclusive."
Zach said he would love his grandparents' park to be fitted with more accessible equipment, along with new flooring.
"There is a lot of stuff that isn't accessible," he said.
"If they could change it, I would really appreciate it."
