a man in a wheelchair on a trail next to a pond

Accessibility

Horseshoe Lake at Skyline Ridge Preserve (John Green)

Midpen is committed to programmatically making Midpen facilities, programs, services, information, employment and meaningful work opportunities accessible and usable by all people.

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a man in a wheelchair on a trail

Several Midpen preserves have easy-access trails that may accommodate wheelchairs, strollers, walkers and anyone desiring a less strenuous open space experience. Most of these easy-access trails are at least 4 feet wide, have a grade generally not exceeding 5%, and a fairly uniform surface. Please note that other Midpen trails may have grades up to 20% and uneven surfaces with rocks, ruts and roots.

ACCESSIBLE OPEN SPACE

Midpen is committed to providing access to its preserves and facilities for people with disabilities.  Visitors with mobility disabilities may use a wheelchair anyplace visitors are allowed.  Midpen also allows, per the ADA, the use of Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMD) for persons with mobility disabilities. Please see our Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices Policy for standards and areas of authorized use. 

In accordance with the ADA, Midpen accommodates service dogs in preserves wherever we allow public access. 

NOTICE UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH  DISABILITIES ACT

In accordance with the requirements of title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities. 

Employment: Midpen does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices and complies with all regulations promulgated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under title I of the ADA.

Effective Communication: Midpen will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in Midpen's programs, services, and activities, including qualified sign language interpreters, documents in Braille, and other ways of making information and communications accessible to people who have speech, hearing, or vision impairments.

Modifications to Policies and Procedures: Midpen will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services, and activities.  For example, individuals with service animals are welcomed in Midpen Preserves, even where pets are generally prohibited.

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity of Midpen should contact the ADA Coordinator at adacoordinator@openspace.org or 650-691-1200 as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the scheduled event.

The ADA does not require Midpen to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden. 

Midpen will not place a surcharge on a particular individual with a disability or any group of individuals with disabilities to cover the cost of providing auxiliary aids/services or reasonable modifications of policy, such as retrieving items from locations that are open to the public but are not accessible to persons who use wheelchairs.

A member of the public can contact Midpen with a comment, concern, or complaint without filing a formal grievance by contacting the ADA Coordinator Susanna Chan, Assistant General Manager, and Alternate ADA Coordinator Jane Mark, Planning Manager, by email at adacoordinator@openspace.org, or by phone at (650) 691-1200 or by dialing the California Relay Service at 711. Download Midpen's Grievance Policy.

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