Accessibility
What's New:
Review & provide input on Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation's draft 2012 Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan
Americans with Disabilities Act Updates
Revisions to Title II and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act were approved by the Department of Justice in 2010, and going into effect in 2011. For more information, please see the following links:
Keeping your parks, trails and recreation programs accessible
The Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Department is committed to providing parks, trails and
recreational facilities and activities for people of all abilities. The Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 provides civil rights protection to individuals with
disabilities in the areas of employment, public accommodations, governmental services and
communications. The act went into effect in 1992. Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation is
dedicated to meeting these standards.
Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation is a joint City of Vancouver and Clark County service agency.
Both the City and the
County have Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plans and program
coordinators. Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation utilizes both of these plans for accessibility
improvements on features that are not addressed specifically in the department's own Transition Plan.
All parks and recreation facilities built after 1992 have been
designed to meet the federal accessibility standards required by the Americans with Disabilities Act at the time of construction. Accessibility barriers at our older facilities and within our programs are included in the Department's Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan. This plan also includes estimated time frames for completion and estimated costs for the accessibility improvements it identifies.
Recreation
The compliance of our recreational facilities and buildings, including Firstenburg Community
Center, Marshall Community Center, and the Vancouver Tennis Center are covered in the City of
Vancouver's transition plan. The City of Vancouver's Access to Recreation and Inclusion Program provides both integrated and separate classes, camps and programs for people with physical and mental disabilities.
Parks, Trails and Open Spaces
Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation currently oversees over 7,000 acres of parks, trails, sports
fields and open space. Some of these areas are meant to preserve the natural topography and
character of the specific properties, and will not comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards. However, the
department continually strives to provide a diverse experience for all users. From the downtown
urban park experience at Esther Short Park to the rustic charm of Lewisville Park, we are
identifying how to best serve citizens of all abilities.
Transition Plan
Many of our parks and trails systems were developed before 1992, so may not be compliant with
current Americans with Disabilities Act standards. The Transition Plan was created to identify current barriers to access and
potential opportunities for upgrading facilities. From 2005 through 2009, staff worked to survey
all parks and trails to identify all of the current barriers. Not all park features need to be
compliant, but the department must provide equal access to unique park experiences.
Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation developed its first Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan in 2007. The plan was then updated in early 2012 and is currently available for public review and input through March 2015. More information.
The biggest challenge with the Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation transition plan is the number of upgrades needed
and the limited funding available to make these upgrades. Staff continually looks for ways to make upgrades as part of other maintenance or construction projects and applies for a variety of grants.
The funding mechanisms used for accessibliity improvements at parks and recreation facilities come from many sources, including:
- Real Estate Excise Tax (REET)(city and county) - can be used for upgrades at parks and recreation facilities
- Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) (city only) - 30% of these funds are dedicated to accessibility improvement projects
- Neighborhood Action Plan grants (NAP) (city only) - Neighbors can apply for these small grants for features that are identified in their Neighborhood Action Plan. Typically these improvements include a curb cut to a path, a new accessible bench, new accessible picnic table, etc. Many times, these grants are matched with neighborhood association funds.
- Donations (city and county) - In some parks, generous donors have contributed money to assist with a park improvement project. The donations go through the Parks Foundation of Clark County to ensure that the funds are used for the donor-specified project.
Filing a Grievance
If you wish to file a formal grievance regarding the accessibility of our facilities, programs, services or activities, please contact the Americans with Disabilities Coordinator for either the City of Vancouver (all recreation centers and programs, city-owned parks, trails and sports fields) or Clark County (county-owned parks, trails and sports fields).
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