Making Parks, Trails and Facilities Accessible to All
The City of Redmond’s Parks Department is developing an ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) Transition plan. The City recently completed audits of all 47 parks and 39 miles of trails within Redmond. From this audit, the City has:
Identified barriers to access such as parking, playgrounds and sports courts that are not accessible
Developed priorities
Drafted a schedule to remove barriers
In the next 12-14 years, the City will prioritize work to make accessible five more playgrounds, three more tennis courts, six ball fields, three picnic areas/shelters along with additional improvements to overall access. The community feedback has indicated that priorities for these improvements should be focused in parks that have the most visitors, that are spread throughout the City and sites with unique features like the beach in Idylwood or the barns at Farrel-McWhirter Park. In addition, improving parking, accessible routes, restrooms and trails were key priorities. Over time, all parks will become accessible as they are upgraded to the most up-to-date standards.
Get Involved
Redmond is preparing to audit 26 City-owned or occupied buildings across 13 sites to identify barriers to access. The City is seeking to learn from a stakeholder advisory committee to help recommend solutions and prioritize improvements. If you are interested in serving on this committee, would like to get involved, or want to learn more about what the City is doing to improve accessibility, please email Jeff Aken or call him at 425-556-2328.