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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 (ADA) 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 ADA 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 Transition Plan.
All new facilities and service areas that have been built or created since 1992 were
designed to meet current standards at the time of design. To meet current standards, the
department has created a Transition Plan outlining several key factors:
A list of physical barriers that limit the accessibility of programs, activities and services to individuals
Description of the methodology that will be used to remove barriers
The creation of a schedule for taking the necessary steps to comply with Title II of the ADA
The staff person(s) responsible for the plan's implementation
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. Recreational programs utilize the Access to Recreation and Inclusion Program
directives and policies to assist people with 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 ADA 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 city parks and regional systems were created prior to 1992, so may not be compliant with
current ADA standards. The Transition Plan was created to identify current barriers to access and
potential opportunities for upgrading facilities. From 2005 through 2008, 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 experiences. As park improvement projects
occur, staff utilizes the survey information to confirm accessibility with current standards.
The Transition Plan was created using a citizen advisory group consisting of a
broad cross section of people familiar with accessibility issues. The plan development process
included two open houses and a web survey. The web survey is
continually active to provide a forum for concerned citizens to inform staff of issues related to
ADA. The plan will be updated every two to three years.
The challenge with the Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation plan is the number of upgrades needed
and the limited funds to achieve the plan's goals. Staff consistently scrutinizes options for
upgrades. While every new park, including the Greater Clark Park District program parks,
increases the percentage of accessible features, there are many existing parks that need
upgrades.
The funding mechanisms used for improvements come from many sources, including:
- Real Estate Excise Tax (REET)(city and county) - can be used for upgrades
- Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) (city only) - can be used throughout Vancouver for ADA improvements or new park development
- Neighborhood Action Plan grants (NAP) (city only) - These are small grants that neighbors may apply for features that are identified in their Neighborhood Action Plan. Typically these improvements include a curb cut to a path, a new ADA bench, new ADA 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.
ADA facility updates are reported each year. Please click on the following to see a summary of completed updates.
If you have any questions, please call 360-619-1111.
City 2008
County 2007
County 2008
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