Gold Medal Finalists
Congratulations to the 2011 Gold Medal finalists! The Gold Medal is awarded for excellence in the delivery of public parks and recreation services. Sponsored by Musco Lighting and administered by NRPA and the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, these awards are the pinnacle of achievement for an agency. Being a finalist in one of the population categories is a significant achievement. As we look at the list, we see some of our clients too! (MORE…)
Geneseo Park District
The Geneseo Park District in Geneseo, IL has retained RAC for the mandated 35.105 system-wide access audit of parks and facilities. Molly Hamer, the Park District Executive Director, said “We have some unusual sites and while we think we know access, we really want to be sure.” With the deadline for evaluations and plan development only 44 weeks away on March 15, 2012, that’s the right way to do it.
Service Animal Requirements and Breeds…Changes in Some Cities and States
There are more than 85,000 units of state and local government in the US. Many states, counties, and cities have at some times banned certain dog breeds. Pit bulls for example, have in some instances been thought to be too aggressive. However, the new Department of Justice (DOJ) regulations that became effective March 15, 2011 prohibit a local government from banning a specific breed. A specific dog that can’t be controlled can be banned, but not an entire breed. Two Colorado communities recently reversed position on this, and now permit some breeds as service animals, but still ban those breeds as pets. Is your service animal policy current? It should have been modified 8 weeks ago.
City of Sterling
The Sterling Park District and the City of Sterling, in Sterling, Illinois, recently entered into an intergovernmental partnership to provide parks and recreation services for people with disabilities. The Park District has already had a system-wide access audit and RAC has now been retained to audit the parks owned and operated by the City of Sterling. Scott Shumard, City Manager, said “We have kept up with changes to federal and state requirements and now that parks have been addressed in the federal requirements, we want to make sure we evaluate our sites.”
Department of Justice Enforcement Initiatives and Sports Fields
Have a sports field with fixed seating and a press box? Read this announcement regarding DOJ action and a West Virginia municipal football stadium.
“An individual complained that a West Virginia municipal football stadium was inaccessible for people with mobility disabilities. The municipality agreed to install nine accessible spaces in the parking lot, including two van accessible spaces; provide an accessible route from the parking lot to the stadium; provide 101 wheelchair accessible seating areas, with companion seats; lower a concession stand service counter; and provide an accessible public telephone. It also agreed to provide two accessible toilet stalls in the stadium's south side men's and women's toilet rooms, relocate paper towel and soap dispensers, lower a lavatory and insulate its drain pipes, and mount braille signage identifying the accessible toilet rooms.”
We’ll emphasize the requirement to provide 101 wheelchair accessible seats in the stadium, along with companion seats. Mind you, we don’t disagree with the decision. What’s important here is doing access audits before DOJ visits your agency.
Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation
Headquartered in Riverdale, Maryland, the Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation Department is one of the largest and most recognized agencies in the US. Long a leader in access, inclusion, and other services for people with disabilities, the Department has retained RAC for access audits at selected sites, and training of employees. RAC will also license the use of its checklists to the Department, and Department staff will use the checklists for subsequent site audits. “We have many sites, and we have always followed the latest federal guidance on recreation design. We think this partnership with RAC will help us evaluate our sites and facilities” said Director Ronnie Gathers.
Email, We Get Email…
NRPA staff emailed us with a question from a member and we thought we’d share our answer with you.
The question was: “I would like to confirm if the following statements are accurate (for our brochure and online marketing materials):
“When there are safety concerns such as a "direct threat" to participants, staff/volunteers of the program, service, or activity, the City, protected by the Americans Disabilities Act (ADA), may not require the provision of a reasonable accommodation. In accordance to the ADA, a "direct threat" is a significant risk to the health or safety of others that cannot be eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level by the City's modification of its policies, practices, or procedures, or by the provision of auxiliary aids or services. A determination that a person poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others will not be based on generalizations or stereotypes about the effects of a particular disability.” (MORE)
Fauquier County Parks and Recreation
“We considered other ways of doing this, such as having our staff trained. In the end we wanted an expert to examine our sites and facilities and give us recommendations” said Larry Miller, Director of Parks and Recreation at Fauquier County Parks and Recreation Department in Virginia. The Department just retained RAC for the mandated system-wide audit and RAC will visit in June. The County is a returning client, as RAC President John McGovern visited for a day of training in December of 2010.
Shelley Says…SIGN, SIGN, EVERYWHERE A SIGN…(apologies to music listeners everywhere)
This is an area where we see great inconsistency within park systems, and even within single sites. There are several different types of signs that need to be addressed within a site; these are designation signs that identify permanent rooms and spaces, directional and informational signs, means of egress signs, parking signs, and entry signage. For duplicate areas (entries, restrooms), if not accessible, signage must be provided directing patrons to the accessible entry, restrooms or route. (MORE)
Disclaimer
Nothing in this newsletter is legal advice. It is instead a relaying of decisions and information about the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act to public parks and recreation. Readers interested in legal advice should seek a qualified attorney in your state that knows the ADA and can apply it to public parks and recreation.