mmaroney@sungazette.com
The city Bureau of Codes is taking an inventory of its city parks’ handicapped parking stalls.
The codes department staff will also provide estimates of how many vendors use and guests annually visit the various city recreational facilities such as Brandon Park, Memorial Park, Shaw Place Park, Newberry Park, Lose Park, Veterans Memorial Park and Youngs Woods Park.
Joseph Gerardi, city codes administrator, said the task to calculate the number of parking stalls for the community was a volunteer assignment requested by the city accessibility advisory commission.
Evaluating what parking needs and visitation estimates for the parks is expected to take several months, Gerardi said.
Some city parks require accessibility upgrades, with closer inspection anticipated in coming weeks.
City parks require some updates to meet requirements under the Americans with Disability Act, according to information given to the city Accessibility Advisory commission this week.
For example, Youngs Woods on Railway Street requires pathway, bench, mulch and parking signage improvements, said Joseph Gerardi, city codes administrator.
Newberry Park needs different kinds of mulch, benches, signs, and updates to intersections to have proper access.
A concrete pad that slopes at the park entrance does not meet accessibility law, Gerardi said.
Veterans Memorial Park on West Fourth Street and Wahoo Drive regularly make required updates and the volunteer veterans on the park commission will be notified of any needs such paths, parking stalls and signage.