The Grand Canyon to improve handicapped access

Excellent perspective DE Bishop

westernrvparkowner wrote:
To me it just sounds like a whole lot of Government-speak. From the "we have a lot of work to do" to "need to obtain funding", all the way to "unauthorized run that couldn't be stopped without bad press". That is all just a bureaucrat saying "sorry, but there is nothing we can or will do about it". I have found individuals working for the park service to be truly great. They will go out of their way to help you, just as you found. But as an entity, the park service is a monolith that cannot act. Any proposed changes will be met with a litany of studies, public comments and the inevitable lawsuit challenging everything. The environmental wackos will attempt to block any handicapped access accommodation that moves a rock or displaces a blade of grass. The activists will push for every possible accommodation to be the gold standard and the costs will balloon from a few hundred thousand dollars to multiple millions and the whole thing will just collapse upon itself. Don't book your reservations yet.

I can understand part of what you are saying but you're not being realistic. The comment was a private one made in a staff meeting and I mentioned it because the ranger after spend part of his day in a wheelchair found out how many obstacles the are and what a huge job it is to list and prioritize them. You may be able to say I'm going to change something in your park of a few acres but s park the size of the GC has a lot of hidden problems and identifying them and funding them cannot be done overnight.

I would suggest you go to the Park and contact Dave or Diane Chalfant about what they are doing. Obviously Dave wants to know what needs to be done or he would not instruct his staff to use a wheel chair instead of walking. Now the staff is more acutely aware that there is a problem and it is big.

The multi million dollar improvement to Bright Angel Trailhead is but one improvement that has been talked about for years and Dave in partnership with the GCA raised the money for plans and construction. There are now restrooms there along with benches, shade covers and water for filling water bottles.

Dave gave permission to the GCA to use the Kolb Studio as a gift shop and venue for special events. The conditions was that he GCA restore the studio and residence. The restoration had to follow Park Service guidelines and regulations. And at a cost several millions of GCS funds, the restored building was opened and dedicated last weekend. To recognize the many Indian tribes that have called the area home a medallion was designed and the designed was transferred to concrete in a plaza by the newly built Mather Amphitheater. The biggest problem with the medallion's design was not any of the things you mentioned but getting the Tribal names in an order that satisfied eight sovereign Indian Nations. The amphitheater looks like it is a natural feature of the park.

Care and planning like this takes time and is proof that the Park Service is not a monolith. As for the Rim to Rim run, the organizer insisted that it was not an organized even, as fines were levied against the organizer it was noted that his statement was BS. How could 250 runners all wearing identical T shirts be a coincident?

Sorry Mr. Park Owner, the completions of so many improvements in the last four years were not a fluke. They may take time but nothing unusual.

Rant over, please visit the park, you can park you car and take free shuttles almost everywhere but the Phantom Ranch.

To me it just sounds like a whole lot of Government-speak. From the "we have a lot of work to do" to "need to obtain funding", all the way to "unauthorized run that couldn't be stopped without bad press". That is all just a bureaucrat saying "sorry, but there is nothing we can or will do about it". I have found individuals working for the park service to be truly great. They will go out of their way to help you, just as you found. But as an entity, the park service is a monolith that cannot act. Any proposed changes will be met with a litany of studies, public comments and the inevitable lawsuit challenging everything. The environmental wackos will attempt to block any handicapped access accommodation that moves a rock or displaces a blade of grass. The activists will push for every possible accommodation to be the gold standard and the costs will balloon from a few hundred thousand dollars to multiple millions and the whole thing will just collapse upon itself. Don't book your reservations yet.

regards swimming pool lifts...My wifes only access to a swimming pool is through the use of a lift. A swimming pool for a polio paraplegic is fantastic for muscle inhancement and in a pool she is almost an equal to the other guests. The lifts I have seen are not expensive when compared to ramps, and door openers.

I found the folks at the grand canyon to be very responsive in assisting access to the grounds 7 or 8 years ago unlike the folks at denali in Alaska. denali had the same access procedures but they did not disclose them and when challenged claimed a 5 day waiting period to process a request

D.E.Bishop wrote:
I couldn't agree with you more. There is no swimming pool at the GCNP so no problem there and the project is one being developed by the Park staff not the "Government". Funding needs are not yet determined and will be both budget and donation funds.

Dave is concerned about achieving real advancements and his staff has begun the improvement needs list and the DW and I are both in need of walkers and wheelchairs, our input has been noted and we along with DAV and others will be needed as well as historical architects and the legal community. The focus will be access without changing the appearance of historic features. The plan should be shovel ready in about three years. Remember that the Grand Canyon Association will be fund raising starting now and Dave is reminding Washing DC that compliance with the AWD Act is mandatory as is maintenance of the historical nature of the Park.

This will not be a "shoot from the hip" project.

I am so glad you are posting detailed info. It will be helpful to many people, including future site-searchers here.

Tiger4x4RV wrote:

Naio wrote:

Yes, the key is to have actual disabled campers making the final decisions about how money will be spent.

Yes. Having had to use various mobility aids over the years (wheelchair, walker, cane, crutches), my observation is that most efforts are made to help disabled persons who are on wheels.

Rough spots and long distances are daunting to those on feet (canes, crutches), and barriers such as doors are especially difficult with crutches. Restaurants where patrons have to carry their food/drink to tables pose problems when one's hands are both occupied with crutches.

Yes! I remember when I had a broken foot, I dreaded buildings with ramps. Stairs were much easier, on crutches. We need to have both.

I couldn't agree with you more. There is no swimming pool at the GCNP so no problem there and the project is one being developed by the Park staff not the "Government". Funding needs are not yet determined and will be both budget and donation funds.

Dave is concerned about achieving real advancements and his staff has begun the improvement needs list and the DW and I are both in need of walkers and wheelchairs, our input has been noted and we along with DAV and others will be needed as well as historical architects and the legal community. The focus will be access without changing the appearance of historic features. The plan should be shovel ready in about three years. Remember that the Grand Canyon Association will be fund raising starting now and Dave is reminding Washing DC that compliance with the AWD Act is mandatory as is maintenance of the historical nature of the Park.

This will not be a "shoot from the hip" project.

Naio wrote:

Yes, the key is to have actual disabled campers making the final decisions about how money will be spent.

Yes. Having had to use various mobility aids over the years (wheelchair, walker, cane, crutches), my observation is that most efforts are made to help disabled persons who are on wheels.

Rough spots and long distances are daunting to those on feet (canes, crutches), and barriers such as doors are especially difficult with crutches. Restaurants where patrons have to carry their food/drink to tables pose problems when one's hands are both occupied with crutches.

2oldman wrote:
Hope the Feds didn't blow all their money on swimming pool lifts...you know, those things that are never used.

Yes, the key is to have actual disabled campers making the final decisions about how money will be spent.

Hope the Feds didn't blow all their money on swimming pool lifts...you know, those things that are never used.