HomeMy WebLinkAboutDisMinutes_2013_03_22Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities
March 22, 2013
A meeting of the Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities was held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday,
March 22, 2013 in the Brookings City & County Government Center with the following members present:
Jessie Kuechenmeister, Jeff Vostad, Nancy Hartenhoff-Crooks, Dave Miller, Alan Davis, Geoffrey Graff,
Sylvia Lozada and Nadine Gjerde. Matt Simet, Lonnie Bayer and Kathy Heylens were absent. Shari
Thornes was present.
Miller called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. The agenda was adopted. The February minutes were
approved. Next meeting – April 19th @ 2:00 p.m.
NEW BUSINESS
Arrowhead Park. Pete Colson, Park and Recreation Director, presented the proposed equipment
installation and ADA improvements for Arrowhead Park. The park is located in the north end of the Indian
Hills development. Arrowhead Park currently consists of five play features: 1. Hard-surfaced basketball
court (north end of park); 2) Hard-surfaced tennis court (south end of park); 3) Small tornado slide
(between the basketball court and the west path); 4) Tot feature (between the basketball court and
tennis court next to the west path); and 5) Swing set (immediately east of the tot feature).
The Director feels the Park currently has the following ADA compliance issues:
• The main body of the slide is cracked and needs to be removed for safety. While the new feature will
be constructed parallel to the path, there is a lack an accessible pathway to the entry/exit points to
the feature area. Feature surface will be pea rock, membrane and soil layers and Nature’s Plus wood
chips. Parks Dept. will be installing a new composite play structure this spring (Endless Adventures).
The feature will be installed where the tornado slide is currently positioned.
• No accessible path of travel to the basketball court.
• No accessible path of travel to the tennis court.
• While there is an accessible pathway to the swing set, the sidewalk ends abruptly with a 10 inch
drop-off. The surface under the swing set is fine sand and could not be negotiated in a wheelchair.
Proposed Plan:
• Construct hard surface (likely concrete) accessible pathway (48 inch width) from main path east to
the basketball court. Three additional pathways will feed off this and connect to the new composite
playground feature servicing the transfer platform and the three slide exits.
• Construct hard surface (likely concrete) accessible pathway (48 inch width) from main path east to
the tennis court.
• Add accessible ramp to the end of the pathway and replace playground feature surface with pea
rock, membrane and soil layers and Nature’s Plus wood chips for the top surfacing.
Thornes and the Committee noted the following concerns or questions. Source: 2010 Standards –
Scoping Requirements – Chapter 2, Section 240 and Recreation Facilities/Play Areas – Chapter 10, Section
1008
Issue: Play Components
It was difficult to determine the number and type of play components from the specifications, so the
manufacturer was asked to list each elevated play component and its play experience (swinging,
climbing, etc.) and each ground level play component and its play experience. The manufacturer
submitted the following:
Elevated:
1. Landslide 2 = sliding
2. Loop Pool Climber = climbing
3. Bubble Panel = imaginative
4. Enhanced Barrier w/ Playwheel = manipulative
5. “S” Tunnel Slide = sliding
6. 3’ Trestle Bridge = imaginative
7. Apex Climbing Attachment = climbing
8. Single Velocity Slide = sliding
9. Tic-Tac-Toe Panel = manipulative
10. Curve Velocity Slide = Sliding
Ground Level:
1. Bench Seat = gathering/social
2. A-Maze 2-in-1 Panel = manipulative
3. Leg Lift = chinning
Per Standards, a play unit with 10 elevated play activities must also provide three ground level play
components of different types. The ground level components must be integrated into the play area.
Thornes and the Committee said a bench seat cannot be considered as a play component/activity.
Geoff Ames, ADA Consultant from the ADA Leadership Center, cited the following concerns: “This
design, considering the cost of accessible surface material installation/maintenance, does not appear to
be the most strategic or cost-effective. It looks as though there will be 3 points of entry. Accessible routes
from points of access will pass outlets of slides. If the surface at bottom of slides is loose-fill material (i.e.,
not stable) that would be problematic, as dish-out at bottom of slides results in an inaccessible (neither
level nor stable) surface. The alternative is to provide pour-in-place material all the way around the play
area perimeter, with the exception of the extremity where the “loop pole climber” and the “landslide 2”
are located. Paved surfaces can be used where accessible routes do not coincide with Use Zones (i.e.,
safe, fall attenuating surfaces ASTM F 1487-01).
Based on play area scoping:
240.2.1.1 Minimum Number and Types. Where ground level play components are provided, at least one
of each type shall be on an accessible route and shall comply with 1008.4.
240.2.1.2 Additional Number and Types. Where elevated play components are provided, ground level
play components shall be provided in accordance with Table 240.2.1.2 and shall comply with 1008.4.
The intent of the scoping standard to provide comparable play opportunities to children with disabilities
who are unable to transfer to the elevated composite play structure and climb (in this case 6) steps to a
variety of elevated play components is poorly met by this design. The point of the scoping standard is to
provide ground level play components of a variety that to some degree offers children with disabilities
the same benefits and advantages of the play area as children who can access the elevated components.
If there are actually 11 play components (i.e., activities) on the elevated composite structure, then there
must be 4 ground level play components of 3 different types on accessible routes. The bench is a poor
attempt at providing a play component. At best, this design is minimally compliant; as for integration and
equal opportunity to participate, I’d be hard-pressed to give it a D-minus. Effectively, the play
opportunities at this play area are separate and segregated – not equal – for many children with
disabilities.”
Colson said the playground equipment was purchased some time ago from a private donor.
ISSUE: Engineered Wood Fibers.
Thornes referenced sections of a report prepared by Ames on playground materials: “Accessible Play
Area Surfaces: A Synthesis of Research and Practical Application of the ADA.”
“The design, installation and maintenance of play equipment and surface material is critical to achieving
an inclusive environment that facilitates child development and enables children with disabilities to fully
participate with their non-disabled peers.
Three types of surfaces are required in a compliant play area:
1) Safe (impact attenuating) surfaces in use zones,
2) Accessible (firm, stable and slip resistant) surfaces within routes and clear ground spaces for those
play components required to be accessible, and
3) Safe and accessible surfaces where use zones and accessible routes coincide
The proposed plan calls for engineered wood fiber playground surface. Ames said there’s no doubt that
this material properly installed to the appropriate thickness can provide required fall attenuation.
However, he’s never seen any loose material such as this maintained to be consistently stable. Unstable
surfaces are not accessible surfaces.
Action steps:
Colson will provide a revised play unit plan with a new ground level play activity.
Thornes will contact Bill Botten at the United States Access Board regarding recommended play
surface materials, specifically engineered wood fibers (EWF).
Volunteer Leadership Coffee with Mayor. Mayor Reed is hosting his second annual City Volunteer
Leadership Coffee on May 16th and 30th with chairs and vice chairs of the City’s volunteer boards,
committees, councils and commissions. He will provide information on city issues and projects and seek
input from the groups. Kuechenmeister will attend on the 30th and Miller with attend on the 16th.
PROJECT & ISSUE UPDATES:
Statewide Conference Call follow-up. Gjerde, Kuechenmeister, Hartenhoff-Crooks, Miller and Thornes
participated in a conference call with ADA colleagues from South Dakota. There is interest in re-establishing
an ADA network in the state. The initial recommendation is to hold a meeting via some type of electronic
medium on a monthly basis. The Committee recommended the third Thursday of every month at 9 a.m.
The next meeting would tentatively be April 18th at 9:00 a.m.
Public Education Subcommittee Report. Bayer, Kuechenmeister and Lozada are working on a public
education campaign. Their draft strategy is to educate the public through local media about disability
related topics using a format similar to the “myths & facts” campaign, but with a more modern approach.
They are currently identifying topics to present at a future meeting.
National ADA Symposium. The National ADA Symposium will be held in San Antonio, Texas, May 12-15.
ADA Network members are eligible to receive a $1000 stipend for registration and expenses. To be eligible
for funding, members must have successfully completed certification requirements. Hartenhoff-Crooks and
Bayer are not attending. Kuechenmeister, Vostad and Miller plan to attend. Deadline to register is March
31st.
Train the Trainer Workshop – June 10 & 11. Lozada, Hartenhoff-Crooks, Kuechenmeister, Graff and Gjerde
wish to attend.
City ADA Coordinator’s Report
• Chamber of Commerce entrance - Graff and Thornes met with Heidi Gullickson, Chamber Director, on
March 1st to review the space. It’s a difficult space due to the existing reception desk. They
discussed enlarging the new vestibule with the same door design, but extend the vestibule to the
south wall and put the brochure rack on that wall. Or, install the vestibule as proposed by the
building inspector and eliminate all programming (seating, brochures, etc.) from the southwest
corner. Incorporate that space into reception/work area if ever remodeled. Either option could
work.
• Parking Lots. A review of city owned parking lots will be scheduled this spring.
• SAE Fraternity – toilet door swing. Thornes was contacted by the city building inspector regarding plans
for the new SAE fraternity in Greek Row. The architect, Architecture, Inc., insisted that the toilet stall
door swing the wrong direction. The architect had missed the path of travel directional arrow in
the Standards.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Correspondence/Announcements/ Calendar
May 13-15 National ADA Symposium, San Antonio
June 10-11 Train the Trainer Workshop
July Durable Medical Equipment Drive
July 28th Ice Cream Social, Pioneer Park
Sept ____ ABLE Awards
Meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m.
Submitted by Shari Thornes