MARCH 2010
River Trails Park District
The River Trails Park District has retained RAC to draft a transition plan for the District. RAC completed the access audit of District sites and facilities in 2009. Park District Executive Director Debbie Carlson-Kudla wanted someone to work closely with her staff in developing the Plan. RAC will do that and is happy to continue to work with the District.
Door Pressure Gauges
We have, in every access audit report, referred public agency staffs to a firm known as East Lake Derry, which was in the business of selling access tools. The firm no longer does so. We always cited the firm as a source for the door pressure gauges used to determine the pounds of force to open a door. Noel Rolle at the Addison Park District called us the other day and just to be sure, Senior Project Manager Shelley Zuniga checked and the firm no longer sells these products.
Shelley didn’t stop there though…she found another firm that does. Go to http://www.technologylk.com/crl-door-pressure-gauge-lk-HMC035.htm?src=froogle and you’ll find exactly what we recommend from Technology LK for $32.50.
Thank you Shelley!
Palatine Park District
Palatine Park District has retained RAC for a system-wide access audit of all recreation sites and facilities. RAC staff started facility audits this month and will complete our work in facilities before the weather turns warm enough to visit Palatine parks. Executive Director Ron Gbur at Palatine said “…the District is really committed to access and inclusion, and we want all of our residents to enjoy the benefits of recreation. This acess audit will help us assure that happens for our residents.”.
RAC Mailbag…
Questions, we get questions from all over. We won’t identify the state or community that asked the series of questions below, but remind everyone that the benefits of compliance outweigh the costs, even in these tough economic times.
Question 1: One of my greatest challenges is the park itself. It is very difficult to leave open, walk through gate areas wide enough for a wheel chair because quads and motorbikes can often fit through. If you lock the gate and give the family a key, the key can get lost or locks can get changed. Any suggestions???
Answer 1: This is cut and dried. Gates must be wide enough for an accessible route, and that is a minimum 36” clear width. This is an absolute requirement if the park allows guests who are ambulatory to visit the park. If you refuse to do so because a quad bike, bike, or motorcycle can get through and into the park, that is a violation of the ADA requirements. The US Department of Justice has, in settlements this year and last year, emphasized the need for an accessible route in parks. I’d suggest the gate be made wide enough. The issue of bikes, quads, and cycles entering and using the park is one of supervision. Post signs prohibiting such entry, adopt an ordinance with stiff penalties, and enforce the ordinance.
Question 2: Also, I have had issues with non-handicapped people using handicapped swings. They ignore/don't read signs. I'm afraid someone will get hurt. Even though no wheel chairs ever use the swings, I don't want to remove them. Any suggestions???
Answer 2: First, and I always wonder whether I should make this comment, the preferred way to make this comment is to use people-first language. I am not a handicapped person…I am a guy with a disability. Instead of “non-handicapped people”, how about ambulatory people. And is the swing handicapped? I think the writer means a platform swing designed for people who use wheelchairs.
Second, platform swings are, again this is my opinion, very dangerous. I’d remove it immediately. The writer claims he or she does not want to remove it but these are such a risk management issue, I’d drive over tomorrow and take it out. There are bag swings for around $200 that can be purchased and given to a family that has a son or daughter who uses a wheelchair. These are 100 times more safe than a platform swing.
Park Benches
RAC clients received a memo clarifying the treatment of, and requirements for, park benches. The outdoor recreation technical requirements are still evolving. In our work for a public parks and recreation agency, we won’t take a chance on your compliance by giving you only a minimum requirement. We’ll also recommend some smart practices that, as here with park benches, make them more usable. Curious? Check out the DRAFT final guideline for outdoor developed recreation areas at the US Access Board website at http://www.access-board.gov/outdoor/draft-final.htm.
RAC Staff Refreshed
Everyone needs some review and training, including our staff. On Friday March 5, we met and exhaustively reviewed our customized checklists and test-drove a couple of changes and new checklists at a Schaumburg Park District facility in Illinois. Special thanks to the Park District for its assistance.