ADA Commission Flags Accessibility Problems at Soldiers Field

DOUGLAS --

TOWN -- At its Oct. 21 meeting, the town's ADA Commission added Soldiers Field to its list of accessibility concerns after a member toured the property and described the parking and fence entryways there as "awful." The member said the site's one ramp leading toward the building is interrupted by a separated, cracked section of sidewalk, and noted the facility's only accessible-route ramp leads to a portable accessible toilet on the opposite side of the grounds rather than to the bathroom itself. Members agreed Soldiers Field, which is town property, warranted further review.

The commission also discussed accessibility limits at Martin Street Playground, where members said several swings have been worn low to the ground from kids digging underneath them and where hillside grading adds to the challenge of upgrades. Members noted that routine repairs or replacement of worn equipment, done as maintenance, would not trigger mandatory accessibility retrofits under current rules, but larger changes to the equipment would. Both sites were added to the commission's ongoing area-of-improvement list for further review, and members said they would continue researching separately on at least one other town open-space property.

Compiled from team and league reports, reader submissions, and local coverage.