Parade Gets Cheers, Lack of Handicapped Parking Gets Jeers

It was an event 50 years in the making for Rohnert Park and is being called a success among the community. But some people have taken offense to the lack of handicapped parking at the parade/festival.

At issue is the parking area behind the festival - held at the Rohnert Park Community Center Saturday. Parade and festival organizers designated the area for VIPs who were scheduled to participate in the parade, according to organizer Jennifer Wiltermood.

"We did have a lot of regular handicapped parking," she said. "In that particular area we had the VIP section and we had a lot of dignitaries that were elderly. They needed to be able to park in a location that they could get in the parade."

But some commenters on Rohnert Park Patch took issue with the VIP parking.

Kimberley Peterson Roberts wrote: "I do have one huge complaint. The fact that the city would even think of taking away all the handicapped parking for the VIP's and tell the handicapped people they can park in Rancho High's parking lot is rediculous (sic) as well as probably illegal! Don't be surprised if a lawsuit from the ADA come after that one. And not one of the cars in the VIP had a Handicapped sticker or plaque. Really not cool!"

Karina Wilcox wrote: I too thought Rohnert Parks 50th was wonderful, but as I have posted in other places, I too had family members that were turned away and are handicapped. Same thing over the VIP parking, like I have said before any one of my handicap family members would willingly pay 250 NOT to be handicap DO NOT insult them by taking away their mobility."

Wiltermood said the 50th Anniversary Committee did not anticipate the lack of handicapped parking at the event. She pointed out that the VIP parking was only open through 1:30 p.m.; the festival lasted through the evening. 

"It's just so disappointing," she said. "They were basically five people putting this thing together. Being the first event that you have ever done, you are not going to know what you are looking for (in handicapped parking) until you done it. We are all about family and that’s what we wanted to promote, so we didn’t want anyone to feel that way."

Wiltermood said that for the city's 51th Anniversary, "We will have more separate handicapped parking for it. It's just difficult because you can never estimate how many spaces there will be."

What are your thoughts about this issue?

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Editor's note: A call to the Rohnert Park city manager was not returned by the time of this posting, we will update the story once the call is returned. Stay with us for follow-ups.