GMRPTC February 2025 Newsletter

The Accessibility Issue

Welcome to the new GMRPTC newsletter! This issue focuses on the Commission's new accessibility and inclusivity initiatives - check it out! Please share this first issue with friends and colleagues who might be interested. If you didn't receive this issue directly from us, please scroll to the bottom of the newsletter and sign up to get on our list for future issues!

Letter from the Executive Director
Advancing Accessibility in Greater Minnesota's Parks and Trails
It is exciting to share the Commission's latest initiative, to enhance accessibility across Greater Minnesota's parks and trails. Our commitment to inclusivity means ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can fully enjoy the natural beauty our state has to offer. To achieve this, we are collaborating with accessibility specialist Bill Botten, whose expertise will help guide us in making our outdoor spaces more welcoming, enjoyable and navigable for all.

This initiative will focus on educational forums, evaluating existing facilities and trails as requested, and identifying areas for improvement. With Bill's vast knowledge we will identify best practices in universal design and make that information available to all, whether part of the Greater Minnesota system or not. Our goal is to help achieve a standard for accessibility in outdoor recreation. We look forward to working together to ensure that access to the outdoors is open and enjoyable for everyone.

Sincerely,
Renee Mattson, Executive Director
GMRPTC

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Register for GMRPTC/GMPT Accessibility Forums!
The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC) and Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails (GMPT) has teamed up with national accessibility expert Bill Botten to enhance the accessibility of Greater Minnesota regional facilities. A key part of this opportunity will be a series of webinar forums exploring accessibility standards for different features commonly found in parks or trails.

These sessions will be offered on a quarterly basis in 2025 for all regional and prospective regional partners, Legacy partners, as well as others interested in accessibility in outdoor recreation through the GMPT organization.

Online registration is required. Use the link below to register for the first forum.

Forum #1: Playground Development and Maintenance
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
11:30am - 1:00pm

Meeting the minimum accessibility design standards for play and recreation areas is the first step to ensuring everyone can participate, enjoy, and experience park and play area facilities. This seminar will review the requirements for play areas in the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design Standards that apply to all newly designed or constructed play areas for children ages 2 and older. This session will address the scoping and technical requirements for accessible play components, ground-level and elevated accessible routes, play area surfaces, transfer systems, soft contained play structures, and water play components. Additionally, a discussion on the alteration of existing play areas and requirements for routine maintenance to properly identify and address potentially hazardous conditions. In addition to an overview of the play area provisions, the presenter will address participants' questions and share common sources of confusion with accessible play areas and play area surfaces.

Register Forum #1

Future Forums
Save the Date:Forum #2: Pedestrian Trails and Shared Use Paths
Tuesday April 15, 2025
11:30am - 1:00pm

Enjoying a hike, a bike ride, a walk, or a roll along a scenic route is a healthy way to spend time. This seminar will review the differences between accessible pedestrian trails and shared use paths. This session will review the technical an scoping requirements in the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Accessibility Standards for newly constructed or altered pedestrian trails on federal sites and that serves as a best practice for state and local government pedestrian trail facilities. Additionally, the final scoping and technical guidelines for shared use paths which are designed primarily for use by bicyclists and pedestrians for transportation and recreation purposes will be addressed. In addition to an overview of the requirements for both pedestrian trails and shared use paths, the presenter will address participants' questions and share common sources of confusion with these unique recreation facilities.

More on Accessibility Expert Bill Botten
William "Bill" Botten, an Exercise Physiology graduate from the University of Kansas, joined the U.S. Access Board in 2000. Recently retired, he served for 22 years as an accessibility specialist, technical assistance coordinator, and the training coordinator for the federal designation agency that develops the accessibility standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA). Bill specializes in accessibility issues related to recreation facilities and outdoor developed areas including recreational boating and fishing facilities, pedestrian trails, picnic and camping facilities, sports facilities, and play areas.

His training experience includes hundreds of presentations over the last 30 years to local, state, and national audiences on injury prevention, disability awareness and sensitivity, and accessibility issues. He was part of a team that developed the combined guidelines for the ADA and ABA laws and was the lead staff for the development of guidelines for outdoor developed areas. Additionally, he has participated in several ASTM (an accessibility standards organization) and RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America) committees for inclusive fitness equipment and play area surfaces.

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Accessibility Audit Opportunity Through the GMRPTC
In addition to presenting at the quarterly forums, the GMRPTC is going to provide a limited number of regional parks and trails an opportunity to conduct accessibility audits of their facilities with Bill Botten. These audits are geared towards facilities that are in the Master Planning process or have older facilities that may not meet current accessibility standards. Audits will give those facilities a better understanding as to what changes can help improve access, resulting in small investments that can reduce barriers or even future Legacy development projects that can make a bigger impact.

Note that facilities currently applying for or have received recent funding should be working accessibility into their design process. If you are interested in participating in this audit process, please email System Plan Coordinator Joe Czapiewski at [email protected] for more information and to be placed on the interest list.

GMRPTC Unveils New Value Statement for Inclusion
The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission unveiled its Value Statement for Inclusion at the January 21, 2025 Grantee Meeting in St. Cloud. This statement, which includes its vision for how inclusion and accessibility can be incorporated across the planning and implementation cycle, is geared towards helping our regional partners to not only meet basic required accessibility codes but achieve a higher standard of inclusion for all users.
Value Statement for Inclusion
Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission believes that nature and outdoor recreation belong to everyone. We are committed to creating and maintaining parks and trails that are accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to all individuals, regardless of their abilities Our dedication to inclusion reflects our core values of equity and respect for every visitor.

Our Commitment to Inclusion:
Universal Design: We promote universal design principles in all projects to ensure parks and trails are navigable and enjoyable for people of all abilities. This includes well-maintained pathways, accessible restrooms, and appropriate signage.

Inclusive Experiences: We encourage our facilities to provide diverse recreational opportunities that accommodate the needs of everyone, from adaptive sports to sensory-friendly activities, ensuring everyone can connect with nature in a meaningful way.

Community Engagement: We encourage active conversations with the community, including individuals of all abilities and advocacy groups, to gather feedback to continuously improve the accessibility of facilities and programs.

Education and Training: Our designated facilities educate their staff and volunteers about the importance of inclusion and provide them with the tools and training needed to support all visitors effectively.

Connection to Nature and the Outdoors: We believe facilitating opportunities to connect people of all abilities with nature fosters an appreciation for the outdoors and the environment.

Continuous Improvement: Inclusion is an ongoing process. We encourage facilities to regularly assess and upgrade their facilities and programs to meet evolving standards and the diverse needs of their community. We are committed to staying informed about best practices and innovative to ensure everyone can participate.

New Accessibility Grant Opportunity
In order to support all of this accessibility work, the GMRPTC is establishing a new grant opportunity focused on accessibility. Each year, the Commission plans to set aside a part of its grant funds for smaller facility accessibility improvement projects. The funds will be available each year on an ongoing application basis until funds are exhausted and will be available for immediate contract.

The idea is for Legacy-eligible regional parks and trails to make incremental, low-cost changes that improve accessibility in areas that are not being targeted for full development projects. For example, a park that has a 10 year old day-use area with inaccessible restroom doors and walkways would be able to apply for this grant now, instead of waiting for the next development cycle a decade or more in the future.

Keep an eye out for full program details and funding availability in a future newsletter. The Commission hopes to release program details in this year's funding guidelines and criteria later in the spring.

Review of January GMRPTC Grantee Meeting in St. Cloud
Nearly 70 GMRPTC regional partners, Legacy partners and consultants participated in a half-day Grantee Meeting on January 21 in St. Cloud. In addition to an overview of Commission opportunities, participants heard from Accessibility expert Bill Botten, SHPO partners Kelly Gragg-Johnson and Lucy Harrington, and DNR Grant Managers Sarah Wennerberg and Jenni Bubke.

For access to the full slideshow and segment videos, please visit the Grant Management section of the application toolbox, linked at the button below.

GMRPTC Toolbox

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The Commission "is created to undertake system planning and provide recommendations to the legislature for grants funded by the parks and trails fund to counties, cities, and Tribal governments outside of the seven-county metropolitan areas for parks and trails of regional significance."