Public Events Should Be Accessible To Handicapped

Late last month I was at Riverfront Park for the John Denver concert. As I observed the procedures I saw something very thought-provoking.

There was absolutely no handicapped accessibility.

As I sat at a picnic table near the Carrousel I was talking with a handicapped woman, probably in her 40s, who was very distraught over the long walk, up hill, to the Lilac Bowl where the concert was being held.

“Do I have to walk up there,” she asked. “I’ll never make it.”

Because of her disability, I learned, she was able to walk only about 20 feet at a time before having to sit down. She told me she had been worrying about it for two weeks.

I decided to intervene.

I asked the driver of the little red train that transports visitors through the park if it went near the Lilac Bowl. He said, “no.”

Then I saw that the bicycle rental concession had one wheelchair for rent. I mentioned it to the woman’s daughter when she returned from parking the car and she was able to rent the wheelchair for the walk to the concert.

However, she would have to return it right away as the concession would close before the concert ended. I have no idea how the woman got back to the Carrousel after the concert.

During the evening I saw many people trying to push wheelchairs up the steep, winding incline. I saw several older people attempting the path on foot, but having to be helped along by people on each side while other concert-goers rushed past, eager to get good seats.

What’s more, the exclusion of lawn chairs from the concert area prevented an entire age population - people who are not able to get up and down off the ground - from enjoying the performance.

The Americans with Disabilities Act is supposed to ensure that all Americans have proper access to public areas. Some major changes are necessary to ensure accessibility for all of our citizens to the functions in Spokane’s lovely Riverfront Park.

As the administrator of a health-care facility, I would be more than willing to work with park officials and staff on this problem.

MEMO: Your Turn is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a Your Turn column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write Your Turn, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.