Mayfield Village to Purchase Chair Lifts for Parkview Pool

is spending $7,000 to have chair lifts installed at Parkview Pool's main pool and diving tank.

While it may seem odd to have a chair lift by the diving tank, Mayor Bruce Rinker explained that it's not just about the diving board.

"There are a lot of classes taught there other than diving," he said. "They won't be using it when people are using the diving board."

Recreation Director William Thomas said new Americans with Disabilities Act standards adopted in 2010 require public entities to remove architectural barriers in pools by March 15, 2012 as long as it readily achievable to do so. He said it was a good idea to get started now before there's a rush.

"There's going to be such a backlog of people all across the country wanting them," he said.

Thomas added that there is no need for a platform to allow access to the diving board.

Mayfield Heights keeps a lift in storage and it has been used at that city's pool once or twice in five years, Thomas said. However, it could be considered a nuisance to not have the lifts out and ready to use, so he recommended that they are left out to provide quick pool access.

Councilman Joseph Saponaro said the lifts might get more use it people notice them and realize such assistance is available. He added that the lifts can be used as part of adaptive recreation programs.

"That's something that this council's been very big on providing," he said.