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Board approves ADA‑accessible wagon and mobility‑lift funding for park wagons
Summary
Porter County Parks & Recreation authorized purchase of an ADA‑accessible wagon and set a spending cap for a mobility lift to make wagon rides accessible to users with mobility limitations.
The Porter County Parks & Recreation board approved funding to add accessibility to wagon rides and field‑trip services by authorizing an ADA‑accessible wagon purchase and a capped spend for a mobility lift.
Staff (Speaker 3) described the need to accommodate visitors with mobility challenges and requested authority to purchase a wagon equipped for wheelchair access and to pursue a lift for existing wagons. "We would like to pursue purchasing a mobility lift, a chairlift for one of our wagons," Speaker 3 said, adding that the county has capital outlay available to cover the equipment. The board set a not‑to‑exceed cap of $14,000 for the lift and approved a $15,000 allocation for an ADA‑accessible wagon from capital outlay funds.
Board members said the wagon will expand program access for field trips, Meet the Animals and trunk‑or‑treat events. A board member asked whether the lift would mount on the rear or side; staff answered that the rear installation would work and that vendors offer pre‑installed battery systems for straightforward plug‑in operation.
The board moved and approved the appropriation and authorization; staff will finalize vendor selection and return with purchase details and delivery timelines.
