Parks to upgrade access for disabled

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources plans to spend $11.3 million over the next four years to remove barriers to access by disabled people at its facilities statewide.

Jim McCamm, who suffers from back and heart problems, stands on the newly widened G dock at Ala Wai Boat Harbor. Last August, he slipped on a narrow section of the G dock boat ramp, injuring his leg and ankle. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

Compared to other state and city departments, which also are working to comply with federal requirements under the Americans With Disabilities Act, the DLNR has more natural settings such as trails, beaches and boat harbors to contend with than the typical doors, halls and stairs of government buildings.

Bruce Clark, president of Accessibility Planning and Consulting Inc., helped the DLNR prepare its Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan for Compliance with the Requirements of Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Clark said crews went to 111 DLNR facilities statewide to identify and photograph every architectural barrier, and a total of 4,735 architectural barriers were recorded. The report recommends corrective actions, includes expected costs and estimates a timetable for repairs.

Changes are not deemed necessary at all facilities, but those needing work include:

• Diamond Head State Monument, where work will include making the restrooms accessible and installing an accessible water fountain and picnic table. Planning and construction will cost $48,000.
• He'eia Kea Boat Harbor. Work will include providing accessible parking and boat trailer stalls, an accessible dock and finger pier. The second-floor office for the harbor master has stairs only, so a first-floor office will be provided with accessibility. Cost: $116,000.
• The Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park outside Waimea, Kaua'i, will get a van-accessible parking stall and an accessible bus passenger-loading zone as well as an accessible route from the parking area to the informational kiosk. Accessible restrooms and a water fountain also will be provided. The fort itself will not be modified, as it is listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places, and physical modifications to remove barriers would destroy the historic structural significance of the facility. Cost: $73,000.

"Every state and county agency has to come up with one of these" lists of corrective action, Clark said. "They were supposed to have done this in 1993. There have been several lawsuits in the past to force the issue."

The ADA was created to prohibit discrimination and ensure equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in employment, government services, businesses that serve the public, transportation and communication. Though the bill was signed into law on July 26, 1990, enforcement was delayed for most businesses and state and local governments until 1992.

In Hawai'i, the number of people the act is designed to help is estimated at 144,000 to 240,000 — or between 12 percent and 20 percent of the total population. This figure is not limited to disabled people using wheelchairs, but includes those who suffer from a number of ailments from diabetes to blindness.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources plans to provide disabled people with improved access to all facilities under its jurisdiction, including 'Iolani Palace. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

"This plan should address all the facilities, but not necessarily every bathroom in every park would become fully accessible," said Dan Quinn, state parks administrator. "If we have a park with several lua(s) in it and they are in reasonable proximity, we would have a sign that says 'accessible lua this direction.' "

Quinn said the idea is to get people with disabilities into a proper parking space and from their vehicle to the main attraction or program activity provided in that area. Remote areas or hiking trails are not included in this plan, and federal guidelines for how states should handle that type of access are still being developed, he said.

"That is another issue and they have not finalized the real requirements for those," Quinn said. "There is no way most trails can be made fully accessible."

Many of the listed remedies are basic things such as providing handicapped parking, accessible phone booths, handrails and water faucets. The department must also provide communication access, which means having a sign-language interpreter available when needed and Braille or large-type copies of documents printed.

"It is telling a consumer with a disability if we did all of these things, our program when viewed in its entirety, would be accessible," said Francine Wai, executive director of the Hawai'i Disability and Communication Access Board.

Wai said her board has been involved with developing plans for 29 different state and county departments. The DLNR decided to develop its own plans following the lawsuit.

Wai could not estimate the total cost of all departments becoming ADA-compliant, but said the cost is reasonable.

"The amount of money needed is both an awful lot and a bit of an overstatement," Wai said. "Many departments are choosing to make modifications to the sites in their areas where they need repairs anyway. In doing some of this, even though it is under the auspices of the ADA, it is going to do more than just remove barriers. In many cases it is going to repair basic needs."

Many state departments have little money for long-overdue repair work, but the ADA financing is separate and more readily available, she said.

The state's marinas are estimated to need more than $130 million in repairs and state parks have an $84 million deficit for repairs and maintenance.

The state Legislature already has provided $11 million for the DLNR's ADA work and the department has submitted a budget request for the additional $300,000 for fiscal year 2003-04 to complete the financing.

The city is spending $77.4 million in the next six years to make thousands of sidewalks accessible to wheelchair users and visually impaired pedestrians. By the time the work is done in 2007, the city will have built nearly 8,000 sidewalk ramps near every business district, school, park or other heavily used public space in Honolulu.

Clark said there is no way to say when all state and county facilities will be compliant, but the law is clear it must be done.

Clark said U.S. District Judge David Ezra has stated in previous cases against the city that local governments must do whatever they need to to comply with ADA rules.

"Ezra said sell a building if you need money," said Clark. "'Don't tell me you don't have the money. You must comply with the nondiscrimination laws regardless. There is no excuse.' "

The Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan is available online.

Before construction can begin, the report must be approved by the state Land Board and the new DLNR director, who has not yet been named by Gov. Linda Lingle.

Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.