Description
East Rock Park has been closed for several years to motor vehicle traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic - as an emergency measure. My disabled daughter and I have been unable to access the overlook at the top (and other areas) because she is physically unable to do so. The pandemic is over, and access should be allowed once again. Denying access to a public park to the physically disabled while allowing pedestrian and two-wheeled access is very clearly a violation of the ADA. The gate at the Davis Street entrance should therefore be opened as it always was prior to the pandemic. The mayor's office and parks/recreation department have been unresponsive.
3 Comments
Curt (Registered User)
If your daughter is able to ride comfortably in your automobile I would encourage you to drive over there on any Sunday. The gate is open early in the morning. Honestly the way they have Farnam Drive closed to cars and the period they have the summit road closed to cars has made the park infinitely more community friendly to the general public. Families and runners can use these areas without having to fear they will be run over. I hope this helps, and you are able to bring your daughter to the East Rock summit on a nice Sunday outing soon.
David Agosta (Registered User)
Federal law does not consider that to be an acceptable solution. (see - Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails),
"For the purposes of evaluating accessibility, a “program” is an activity in which people may participate. Basically, the program is the reason a person visits an area and may include
opportunities such as:
• Camping in a campground
• Viewing the scenery at an overlook"
"Viewing Areas Overlooks and viewing areas are designed and constructed to provide scenic vistas and unobstructed views of points of interest, such as a mountain range, a valley, a waterfall, or a unique geologic formation (figure 61). Because overlooks and viewing areas are destination points, they must be accessible so all visitors can enjoy the viewing opportunities."
We are not 1/7 of a person. If the original complainant wishes to discuss the options under consideration, please contact me at devaghost@gmail.com and i will forward your concerns to the attorneys.
Killian Gruber, Coordinator of Resident Services (Verified Official)
This issue has been marked as a duplicate of issue 14582072.
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