Outdoor Developed Areas
by Gayle Martinelli
The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (aka
Access Board) is responsible for developing accessibility guidelines under the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The Access Board created the
Outdoor Developed Areas Regulatory Negotiation Committee to achieve a consensus
approach and requirements for making outdoor developed areas accessible.
This rulemaking covers access to trails, beaches, and picnic and camping areas and will supplement ADAAG by adding a new chapter on outdoor developed areas. The guidelines will provide new construction and alteration scoping (when and how you do it) and technical (what it will look like) criteria and addresses unique constraints specific to outdoor environments. The guidelines will be based on a report developed by the Outdoor Developed Areas Regulatory Negotiation Committee, which the Board has established for this purpose.
Currently, the Board is preparing a proposed rule based on the Regulatory Negotiation Committee’s report.
The proposed rule, once published, will be available for public comment.
What does this mean to a camper with a disability? It means your camping experience will be enhanced by making law that all newly constructed or altered hiking trails, access routes, beaches, camping facilities, picnic elements, overlooks and viewing areas are accessible. Newly constructed or altered means if you touch it, build it or change it, you have to make it accessible.
Log on to http://www.access-board.gov/, e-mail questions to info@access-board.gov or contact the Board at 202-272-5434, ext. 134 (voice), 202-272-5449 (TTY) to watch for the public comment period and to obtain more information on these proposed guidelines.
Excerpted from the Sept./Oct 2001 Access Currents, newsletter from the U.S. Access Board:
"BOARD HOLDS MEETING IN DENVER ON ACCESS TO OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS
On October 4, 2001, the Board held a public meeting in Denver, Colorado on
accessibility to parks, trails, and other outdoor environments. The event
provided a forum for the public to discuss with the Board access issues
specific to various outdoor areas which will be addressed in proposed
guidelines that the Board intends to publish. Organized in conjunction with
the annual meeting of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA),
the meeting was open to NRPA members and the general public. Participants
included representatives from Federal land management agencies and state and
local government entities.
The Board is preparing proposed guidelines on outdoor environments that,
once published, will be available for public comment. These guidelines
will be based on a report from a regulatory negotiation committee that the
Board had organized for this purpose. The Denver meeting focused on
provisions contained in the committee's report, "Final Report from the
Regulatory Negotiation Committee on Outdoor Developed Areas," which was
previously submitted to the Board. The report contains recommended
accessibility guidelines for newly constructed and altered trails, picnic
and camping facilities, and beaches. Technical provisions for trails
include specifications for the running slope or grade, cross slope, width,
surface, passing space, edge protection, and signs. Requirements for picnic
and camping facilities cover picnic tables, fire rings, cooking surfaces and
grills, trash and recycling containers, and wood stoves and fireplaces. The
report also addresses beach access routes, storage facilities, utilities,
camping spaces, outdoor rinsing showers, and warming huts. Copies of the
report are available from the Board, including its website at
www.access-board.gov.
Participants at the meeting offered comments on various provisions in the
report for the Board's consideration in developing guidelines. Much of the
discussion revolved around specifications for trails, including those
addressing edge protection and handrails. Other issues were raised about
the outdoor recreation access route that is required to connect picnic and
camping elements on a site. The Board will publish guidelines in proposed
form which will be made a available for public comment. During the comment
period, interested individuals and organizations will be able to submit
information, feedback, and recommendations on the substance and format of
the guidelines.
While in the Denver area, the Board visited several trails, picnic areas,
and camping facilities at the Rocky Mountain National Park on the day after
the information meeting. The visit allowed members to explore first-hand
some of the issues raised by participants at the information meeting. In
addition to a tour of park sites and trails, the Board had the opportunity
to discuss accessibility issues and concerns with park representatives."