Washington to fix accessibility violations at its state parks

Deb Hodge and James Evans arrived at an accessible campsite at Paradise Point State Park in southwest Washington last May and quickly noticed something was off.

The site was very far from the bathroom and had uneven paths and deep ruts in the camping area – all of which is unusual for a facility deemed accessible under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

The uneven surfaces caused 65-year-old Evans, who has a disability, to fall and twist his back and need medical treatment. The couple returned back to their home in Oregon “disappointed to say the least,” said Hodge, who filed a complaint arguing the site violated the ADA.

That complaint ignited an investigation and a deal, announced Thursday, requiring Washington to identify and fix ADA violations at all of its state parks. The settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice will also require the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to come up with a formal process to maintain current accessible facilities and construct new ones.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/09/05/washington-to-fix-accessibility-violations-at-its-state-parks/