[LGT-National] ADA & National Park Service

[Mark_Johnson at shepherd.org]

>From Pete Anziano, peter.anziano at gmail.com, 404-326-4316

I have been involved in an ongoing battle with the National Park Service
regarding ADA compliance in our National Parks. The current battle and
opportunity is Cumberland Island, http://www.nps.gov/cuis/index.htm .

A "Reserved Lease Rights Retainee" living on the island, Doctor Ben
Jenkins, has made his residence accessible to people with disabilities with
the understanding that at the end of his lease term this year the dwelling
would become park property. The Park Service is in the process of deciding
what to do with the structure at the end of the lease,
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?parkId=371&projectId=28794

There is a STRONG push to have it demolished.

Twenty years ago it was mandated (ADA) that the National Park Service make
all the national parks' major attractions universally accessible to staff,
volunteers and visitors. In the Jenkins case the Park Service will be
acquiring, free of charge this accessible residence in the developed part
of the park that could be utilized for employee, volunteer and visitor
housing. It should be noted the park does not have a single accessible
residence for housing employees or the hundreds of visiting researchers,
volunteers that come to the island every year to support the mission of the
park or park visitors.  Some Park Service representatives state that
Cumberland Island meets the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA). The park employees that work with the visitors every day have
testified that this is blatantly false. I have lead multiple trips of
discovery to the island and have found multiple barriers (Ferry, Docks,
Trails, Beach Access, staff and volunteer housing, etc.).


The Jenkins estate is an asset to the National Park Service, providing the
only accessible residence in the park, it is also equipped with an
emergency generator making it self sufficient during storms and power
outages.  The Jenkins structure is not located in or near the Wilderness,
and access does not require driving through any portion of the Wilderness.


PLEASE take a moment to click the link below (or copy and paste it into
your web browser) and complete the comment form and ask the National Park
Service to maintain the Jenkins estate and/or allow a concessionaire to, so
ALL may enjoy this natural resource.


This is a specific opportunity for the public to provide feedback in the
initial stages of the planning process.  PLEASE COMMENT now as the comment
period ends 01/31/2010 and we need a thousand comments to not be ignored.
Spread the word!!!


http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?parkID=371&projectID=28794&documentId=30789


THANKS for your help.


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