New ADA regulations for recreational facilities prompt concern..
Posted on November 9, 2010 to ADANew ADA regulations for recreational facilities prompt concern about costs for implementation
CRESSONA – The Americans with Disabilities Act has been revised to include accessibility regulations for recreational facilities, and the new standards have one local borough concerned about the cost of implementation.
At a recent Cressona Borough Council meeting, members discussed a letter they received from M. Eugene Eubert, director of the Blue Mountain Recreation Commission, which operates Cressona’s public swimming pool.
In the letter, Eubert detailed new ADA requirements for pools of more than 300 linear feet. These pools, like Cressona’s at 316 linear feet, must have at
least two handicapped accessible entries.
Councilwoman Kathleen Butz said the borough purchased handicapped-accessible stairs a few years ago, but under the new ADA regulations, they would be required to purchase a chair lift, which would cost about $4,000 or more
“It’s a big decision to make for a small community with a pool – where to find money to fund such a big purchase – but everyone on council, I think, is committed to keeping the pool open,” Butz said.
Butz said she realizes accessibility is important; however, unfunded mandates such as ADA requirements can be a burden on small municipalities that try to provide “a nice service, a nice place for the community.”
“We don’t make that much money with the pool. We’re fairly solvent, but it’s hard to find that kind of money when we really don’t make anything on the pool,” Butz said. The borough has asked Systems Design Engineers, its engineering firm, to explore possible grants to cover the cost of purchasing a chair lift, including a Community Development Block Grant.
“It’s obviously important because there are people with disabilities that get their exercise through swimming,” Xochitl Hinojosa, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Justice, said in a phone interview. “New regulations that were issued for the first time deal with recreational facilities.”
Hinojosa said the standards go into effect in 2011, but communities, companies and organizations have until March 2012 to comply.
Swimming pools are not the only recreational facilities affected by the new standards.
According to a fact sheet published about the regulations, many newly constructed or designed amusement rides must be accessible and located on accessible routes.
The new requirements also affect regular and miniature golf courses.
Newly constructed or altered golf courses must provide one or two teeing grounds per hole that are accessible as well as either an accessible route or golf car passage with a minimum of 48 inches connecting accessible elements and spaces within the boundary of the course.
Routes must also be provided to the golf car rental area, bag dropoff area and other elements outside the boundary of the course. A certain percentage of practice teeing grounds, practice teeing stations at driving ranges and putting greens must be accessible.
Also, if weather shelters are provided, a golf car must be able to enter and exit the shelters.
Miniature golf courses will be required to have at least 50 percent of all holes accessible. The holes must be consecutive and the last hole must be on an accessible route that connects to the course entrance or exit without going back through other holes, according to the fact sheet.
Newly designed, constructed or altered playgrounds for children ages 2 and older – including those at schools, parks, childcare facilities and shopping centers – are also affected by the new requirements.
The play areas must have accessible ground and elevated play components, accessible routes, ramps and transfer systems.
Boating slips and fishing piers are affected as well.
A minimum number of boat slips must be accessible to the handicapped depending on the size of the facility and must be dispersed throughout the various types of slips. Also, at least 5 percent of boarding piers provided at boat launches must be accessible and gangways that are part of a required route must be accessible.
Newly designed, constructed or altered fishing piers must also provide accessible routes and have at least 25 percent of guardrails or handrails at no higher than 34 inches. Turning space must also be provided on the pier.
Gyms with exercise equipment must provide at least one accessible piece of every type of exercise equipment present on an accessible route and must have a clear floor space positioned to enable an individual with a disability to use the equipment.
Steam rooms must have appropriate turning space and doors that do not swing into the clear floor space. Where benches are provided, one must be accessible.
