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Nantucket commissioners document multiple inaccessible town sites, plan meetings with land bank and state disability office
Summary
Commissioners reviewed recent site visits that found noncompliant surfaces and missing accessible routes at several land-bank and municipal sites and plan follow-ups with the land bank and the Mass. Office on Disability about grant funding and corrected surfacing.
Commissioner Brenda reported to the Nantucket Commission on Disability on Jan. 31 that she and Commissioner Mickey Rowland inspected several town and land bank sites where walking surfaces, parking and paths are not accessible for people using wheelchairs or mobility devices.
"They were asking about them. And no way is grama accessible. No way is any kind of a pebble or stone accessible," Brenda said, describing paths that the land bank had treated with low-grade molds and pebbles rather than firm, stable surfaces.
Brenda said the inspections covered at least five locations: the leased courts on Hinsdale Road (land bank property), the Nista property on Walwyneth Road where a parking area and intended path are overgrown or composed of loose material, the golf-course path from accessible parking to the clubhouse, the Long Pond dock (where the access surface is loose stones), and Lily Ponds, which is undergoing a long renovation that the commission has monitored.
She also raised concerns about the town’s football field and graduation area: there is no accessible parking adjacent to the field, no accessible route to bleachers and concessions, and portable toilets provided for events are not accessible, she said. Brenda said she photographed the football-field conditions and has contacted town staff to explore options, including applying for state-sponsored accessibility grants.
Brenda said the commission applied last year to the Massachusetts Office on Disability for roughly $41,000 to extend boardwalks at multiple beaches (Galloway, Jetties, Children's) but the application was denied. She has scheduled a Feb. 13 meeting with Evan George of the Mass. Office on Disability to review that denial and discuss reapplying. She also scheduled a Feb. 14 meeting with land bank staff (Rachel and Eleanor) to review specific sites and discuss more suitable materials such as boardwalk sections or fixed tiles.
The commission discussed several local business and sidewalk issues reported by members: dining-area layouts and temporary furniture at Millie’s at the Rotary block accessible entry routes; a gravel parking area labelled as having an accessible sign but lacking an access aisle; and a settled brick sidewalk near the gaslight area where a sunken cable box lip creates a tripping and rolling hazard.
Commissioners agreed to ask town staff (Drew and Matt were named) to examine the rotary/Millie’s route and the gravel parking area and to rebrick the sidewalk near the cable box so the route is flush. Brenda said she will follow up with those staff contacts and with the land bank and Mass. Office on Disability to pursue remedies and possible grant funding.
Ending — Brenda said the land bank indicated it wants to do the right thing, and commissioners plan to press for durable, nonmoving surfaces and accessible routes. The commission will report back after the Feb. 13 and Feb. 14 meetings and will use the meetings to improve any future grant application.
