Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Accessibility topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission urges ADA-aligned approach as Willson Park plan moves into design
Summary
At their Feb. 10 meeting, the Bedford Disability Commission pressed the Willson Park Improvement Project team to prioritize ADA standards and accessible signal technology as design options are scored and public outreach continues.
The Bedford Disability Commission on Feb. 10 told Town of Bedford public works staff that accessibility must be central as the Willson Park Improvement Project moves from planning to design.
David Manugian, Director of Public Works, said the project is in a planning and stakeholder engagement phase and that the design team is weighting ten attributes — from roadway design and pedestrian safety to environmental preservation and construction costs — which will be used to evaluate future design proposals. He characterized public outreach as “a central component” of the timeline and identified the Disability Commission as a primary stakeholder.
Commission Chair Sarah Blackman said she expects the final design to meet 521 CMR and the Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines and recommended including audible tones on traffic signals to assist residents with low vision or blindness. Blackman framed the request as a baseline accessibility standard the town should reach rather than an optional enhancement.
Commission member Gyasi Burks‑Abbott highlighted a gap in sidewalk coverage in the park; Manugian described a core design tension between rebuilding infrastructure to match existing user behavior and altering design to guide users toward safer routes. He also said the project’s scope has broadened to include critical intersections within 500 feet of Willson Park and that solving the site’s issues may require corridor-level coordination, including signal timing beyond the park’s immediate borders.
The Commission and Public Works agreed the next phase will score design options against the prioritized attributes and that continued communication with stakeholders is needed. Manugian asked the Commission to review the project web page for accessibility to ensure public information is available to everyone.
