Picture 4
A water fountain as reminder of the need for water
Picture 3
A forlorn bench - unusable and unused
Pictures 1 and 2
Two good bench solutions
Amenities at the outdoor facility
Summary – Briefly describe the availability and usability of facility amenities, perhaps as a bulleted list, keeping in mind that, for people with disabilities, most amenities are actually necessities.
Description – In describing the available amenities use descriptors on location and accessibility. In addition, location and travel distance to the available amenities can easily be added to existing maps.
Importance/Purpose – Knowing about available amenities, where they are located, the travel distance to and between them will provide users with basic information about what is available at the park site and enabling them to make informed decisions about whether the trails and site meet their needs.
Examples – Amenities, starting from the highest priority, include:
•parking - where and how much; if none, indicate that, too
•restrooms - where; if none, indicate that, too
•drinking water - how reliable; if none, indicate that, too
•a visitor center - how accessible; if none, indicate that, too
•benches and resting areas - where and how accessible
•covered shelters and other structures - where
•open picnic areas - where and how accessible
•viewpoints - where and relative merit
•interpretive opportunities - what kind and relative merit
•availability of guides [human or printed] or published materials
•other special services, such as mobility devices available to loan out, or shuttle transportation within the site
For people with disabilities most “amenities” are actually “necessities”. Water may be crucial for all people, but for people with disabilities it is essential to plan an excursion around the availability of water, since dehydration is a constant danger. If no water is available that is equally important to share.
If water is one prime concern, then, obviously, the availability and reliability of restrooms, is the other prime need. Simply knowing that a restroom is “accessible” may not be descriptive enough. Many people with disabilities travel with attendants, suggesting that larger, private toilets might be more useful than toilet stalls.
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