Park washrooms to get closer look by accessibility committee

Parks in Amherstburg, including those with washrooms, will get a closer look from the accessibility advisory committee.

Councillor Molly Allaire called for the town’s accessibility advisory committee to review local parks and their washroom facilities for potential upgrades and improvements to accessibility.

Allaire is recovering from ACL surgery in her knee and while using crutches, she said she realized “how inaccessible our town is.”

“It was a good eye-opening experience,” said Allaire during the Oct. 13 meeting. “It made realize that we do not even have accessible buttons on our washrooms to allow the door to open.”

Allaire said she had difficulty opening a washroom door in a local park when using two crutches. She said that made her think of other issues that could be lacking and simple fixes that could occur for the community.

“I would just like the accessibility advisory committee to look at it from all options and maybe give us some suggestions so we could make these upgrades as quickly as possible,” said Allaire.

Councillor Linden Crain asked when the next meeting would be, with clerk Kevin Fox stating the accessibility advisory committee is a legislative body that will continue to meet if there is “a triggering condition.” Fox said the next meeting is Nov. 12.

Fox added the current committee remains in place until replaced by the new council.

Councillor Don McArthur, a member of the accessibility advisory committee, said it is “a welcome motion” but wondered what help the committee would get. 

Fox said there would be “a parkland audit” that would see a subset of the committee to go out to different parks on different dates. Their findings would be brought back to the entire committee for discussion.

Allaire shared McArthur’s concerns over timelines with Fox stating the committee now has direction, so “we’ll go and accomplish it.”

Councillor Diane Pouget said the town has a facilities manager and asked if that person would be aware of the issues in order to save the committee some work. 

Director of parks, facilities and recreation Heidi Baillargeon said the facilities manager is aware of the condition of the buildings and the costs for upgrades could be investigated. 

“We do know the locations where there are button operators and where there are not,” said Baillargeon.

Pouget asked if the facilities manager could bring that information to the committee, with Baillargeon stating it may go before the committee for review. Fox said committee members have a “lived experience” and often supplement the reports from administration.

“It would be foolish not to arm the committee with as much information as possible before we send them on a mission to go to all the bathrooms in town,” said McArthur. 

Building site inspections took “many months,” he added, and further information from Baillargeon would be important for the committee’s work.

Park washrooms to get closer look by accessibility committee

By Ron Giofu