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Residents raise ADA access concerns as commission weighs surfaces and benches at dog park
Summary
Residents and commissioners discussed accessibility challenges at a local dog park — including a 50–100 foot distance from parking to the first picnic table — and considered surface treatments (peat gravel, glue-bound gravel, road base or concrete) and additional benches to improve access for people using wheelchairs and mobility devices.
Residents and commissioners at a local commission meeting in Wisconsin Rapids on Jan. 16 discussed accessibility barriers at the city dog park and possible low-cost fixes to improve access.
Barb Scanlon, a resident, asked, “I was wondering what are the ADA requirements for that park for people being able to get in and out of it?” and described regular visitors who use wheelchairs who struggle to reach the first picnic table. Commissioners estimated the distance from the gate to that table at “about 50 to a 100” feet and said one regular visitor with a prosthetic leg can reach only that far.
Commission members and staff discussed options to make the route from the parking lot to the picnic area easier to navigate: compacted road base, peat gravel, and glue-bound gravel (a product that binds aggregate to create a stable surface) were suggested as lower-cost alternatives to concrete. One commissioner said glued gravel would help with a persistent puddle by the gate, and another proposed installing an additional picnic table closer to the entrance so users do not need to travel as far.
The commission did not adopt a formal requirement or timeline at the meeting. Instead, staff volunteered to survey how other nearby parks handle accessibility, to check cost estimates with local vendors and to speak with Nakusa (a local vendor previously contracted to build benches and waystations) about pricing and availability. Commissioners also discussed contacting volunteer groups such as Boy Scouts for bench-construction projects.
Next steps recorded in discussion: staff will research surface options and costs, report back on vendor prices and volunteer possibilities, and propose a specific plan if funding or donations are available. No formal motion or budget appropriation on the dog park was made during the meeting.
