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

ADA Barrier Removal

(John Green)

The ADA Barrier Removal project was created to systematically remove accessibility barriers at Midpen facilities and preserves. Projects include modernization and ADA upgrades to restrooms, accessible parking and pathways, easy access trails, signage, facilities, and other amenities. We track and report annual accomplishments of completed projects and tasks to the board of directors as part of the annual ADA Transition Plan implementation. 

In May 2019, the board of directors approved our ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan Update. This project identified programmatic and physical barriers limiting accessibility at Midpen. The ADA Plan update provides recommendations for removing physical barriers based on accessibility requirements mandated by the ADA and State of California access codes, and will provide the basis for prioritizing, budgeting, implementing, and monitoring the removal of barriers. The final plan is available in the documents section below.

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Public Access, Education, and Outreach
Public Access
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Diversity
Diversity
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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.

Goals and Objectives

The Transition Plan identified 1,075 ADA barriers at Midpen facilities. We have developed a 15-year plan to remove existing barriers based on the prioritization criteria below:

  • Geographic distribution
  • Unique experiences and environments
  • Usage levels
  • Public feedback and requests
  • Project readiness
  • Plan consistency
  • Safety
  • Primary access

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Current Projects

Our next set of projects take place at several popular and high visitation preserves and facilities: Daniels Nature Center, Skyline Ridge, Rancho San Antonio and Pulgas Ridge. Work includes repairs and adjustments to restrooms and parking areas, signage upgrades and regrading and resurfacing several easy-access trails to create a more inclusive open space experience.

Completed Projects

  • Added 0.6-miles of new easy-access trail and resurfaced the existing 1.2-mile easy-access levee trail at Ravenswood Open Space Preserve.
  • Modified nearly 90% of preserve entrance stiles to accommodate wheelchairs
  • Replaced single-stall restrooms with double-stall ADA-compliant restrooms, ADA-accessible parking stalls and accessible routes at Russian Ridge, Monte Bello, and Windy Hill open space preserves. 
  • Adjusted restroom doors throughout preserves for improved accessibility.
  • Implemented a barrier removal tracking system