Officials, Disabled Community Making Graydon More Handicap Accessible

The council may have ruled that Graydon Pool will be open to all this summer–from villagers to New Yorkers alike–but changes to federal rules will force Graydon to truly be open to all, including the disabled, by March of 2012.

On a chilly Saturday morning, village officials toured the Graydon grounds to explore what options best suit the needs of the disabled community in boosting its forthcoming accessibility requirements.

Major changes to the federal Americans with Disabilities Act designate that the village has one year to comply with accessibility mandates, which will mean adding a pool lift or a sloped entry, both of which have to be ADA-compliant. Graydon currently has three ramps, but they don't meet federal ADA compliance.

Parks and Recreation Director Tim Cronin said there may be as many as two lifts or sloped entries but officials wanted to hear input from those most impacted.

"This is important," said Councilman Paul Aronsohn, who chairs the Ridgewood Community Access Network, which explores how to improve accessibility in Ridgewood. "Accessibility and opportunity go hand-in-hand."

Deborah Glennon, a resident who uses a wheelchair, swims at the YMCA a few times a week with the aid of a lift. She had once swam at Graydon, but no longer.

"Getting in the water is always easy," she said. "It's getting out that's hard," particularly because it's a sand-bottom pool.

"A lot of people just don't have the arm strength to get out," Cronin added.

Glennon said ideally for her, the lift would be in deep water but she recognized there may be a need for another to accomodate children in shallower water.

Tricia Mueller, whose 14-year-old daughter has disabilities and is in a wheelchair, said a 4-foot lift toward the child's section near Linwood Avenue "makes sense" for her.

Mueller assists her daughter, Samantha, who she reported had been able to get in Graydon with a jug stroller when she was younger. But now, at 80 lbs., Samantha is in a wheelchair and like Glennon, only swims at the Y with the aid of a lift.

Because most of the accommodations like concession stand and manager's office are on the side closest to the Graydon South lot, from Parks and Rec Deputy Director Nancy Bigos' vantage, placing accessibility options near that side of Graydon might be more palatable than the other side closest to the Stable.

"This is my control administratively and in safety," Bigos said of the side with many children and seniors. Most of the amenities are also on that side, Bigos added, so making those easily accessible is a critical component of any changes made.

Bigos also said it's important to remember that disabled doesn't necessarily mean wheelchair-bound. "Someone young could suffer a torn ACL, for instance," Bigos said. "It [disability] comes in many forms."

Although the entrances to the pool were obviously critical points, Bigos reminded those on-hand that those with disabilities still need to get to the water entrance points, so the ground surface has to be level.

To that end, the path from Linwood Avenue down may have to be re-graded, as well as the patio being extended should a lift be placed in that vicinity.

The Parks and Recreation Department will continue to develop prospective plans in conjunction with the Engineering Department, along with the advice from the CAN, as well as village officials.

Village Manager Ken Gabbert, on hard for the tour, said it's too early to know cost projections but said there may be state of federal grant money that could help. The project would likely be bonded, he said, and construction may begin after the summer season ends, he said.

Aronsohn, long an advocate for the disabled, said all Ridgewood residents deserve the opportunity to swim at Graydon.

"Therefore, all Ridgewood residents– including seniors and neighbors in wheelchairs–should have real access to all that Graydon offers."

"Greater access is a win-win–good for the individuals involved and good for the community as a whole."