RCO finished its role with the federal Architectural
and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access
Board) on their regulatory negotiation committee for
outdoor developed areas in December 1999. That committee
worked for two and one-half years to develop minimum
guidelines for picnic and camping areas, beaches,
and trails. The final report was accepted in September
1999 by the Access Board, including technical and
scoping of guidelines for these types of facilities.
This report is the (minimum) basis
for the proposed rule that came out in summer, 2007 that will
apply to federal agencies only. However, it will be
the best and most current practice to follow for these
types of facilities where no other standards, guidelines,
or rules exist. At this time it is available to view from the Access
Board's web site. The Access Board's web site
has other information about accessibility including
the Final Rule released in September 2002 for fishing
and boating facilities, and other recreation related
activities.
The final rule for playgrounds was
released October 18, 2000. Until Final Rules become
enforceable standards, they can be considered best
practices and latest information. They should be consulted
when designing or developing outdoor recreation sites
and facilities.
On July 23, 2004 the Access Board published new design
guidelines that cover access for people with disabilities
under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The
guidelines update access requirements for a wide range
of facilities in the public and private sectors covered
by the law. The published rule also includes updated
guidelines for Federal facilities covered by the Architectural
Barriers Act (ABA). Both the ADA guidelines and the
ABA guidelines, which the Board updated jointly to
make them more consistent, address access in new construction
and alterations and contain scoping provisions, which
indicate what has to comply, and technical specifications,
which spell out how compliance is to be achieved.
As part of this update, the Board has made its guidelines
more consistent with model building codes, such as
the International Building Code (IBC), and industry
standards. It coordinated extensively with model code
groups and standard-setting bodies throughout the
process so that differences could be reconciled. As
a result, a historic level of harmonization has been
achieved which has brought about improvements to the
guidelines as well as to counterpart provisions in
the IBC and key industry standards, including those
for accessible facilities issued through the American
National Standards Institute (ANSI). The Board believes
that this achievement will greatly facilitate compliance.
The Board's guidelines serve as
the baseline for standards used to enforce the ADA
and the ABA. These standards, which are maintained
by other Federal agencies, such as the U.S. Department
of Justice under the ADA, will be updated according
to the new guidelines. It is these standards, not
the Board's guidelines, that the public must follow.
Copies of the new guidelines
are available from the Board and are posted on its
web site at http://www.access-board.gov/.
The IBC (as amended) became the
model code for this state effect July 1 2004. For
more information go to the Washington State Building
Code Council web site at http://www.sbcc.wa.gov/.
RCFB requires all project sponsors
to follow the most current codes and standards for
renovation or development projects. Where none exists
for certain park elements, consultation with RCFB project
managers or the recreation accessibility specialist
is needed.
The RCO is pleased to answer any
questions about funding or accessibility at any RCFB
funded site. For more information or accessibility
questions, please contact Rory Calhoun by email at rory.calhoun@rco.wa.gov or by phone at (360)902-3022.
Or, for accessible recreation
nationally, check out these links:
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