The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures equal access for people with disabilities. It requires local governments to ensure that public facilities and services are accessible. To meet this requirement, the county developed an ADA transition plan in 2004. At the time, county parks were part of the Vancouver Clark Parks District and managed by the city of Vancouver. For this reason, county parks were not included in the county’s 2004 ADA transition plan. The Vancouver Clark Parks District dissolved in 2013. County parks are now managed by the Parks and Lands division of Clark County Public Works.

Beginning in 2023, Parks and Lands is developing an ADA transition plan. The plan will ensure that facilities managed by the division are accessible to all. This plan will be incorporated into a larger ADA transition plan for Public Works. Developing the plan includes identifying existing barriers to access. The plan will create a framework for prioritizing these barriers for elimination. It will also include a workplan for removing barriers to access.

Public Involvement

Clark County residents are essential to the development of an ADA transition plan. Opportunities to participate in plan development may include:

• In person and online open houses events.
• A community survey.
• Online mapping and reporting of barriers.
•  A public comment period.
• Advisory committees or focus groups.

Project Schedule

• Project kickoff: summer 2023
• Data collection & analysis: fall 2023
• Draft ADA transition plan & public engagement: winter2023

Funding

Metropolitan Park district funds support the ADA transition plan development process.

Contact

Lynde Wallick, park and trails planner

564-397-5882

Lynde.wallick@clark.wa.gov

References:

https://clark.wa.gov/internal-services/transition-plan

https://nwadacenter.org/

https://ada.gov/