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Accessibility and Inclusion

Welcome

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is proud to care for Oregon's extraordinary landscapes and rich cultural history. The department serves its visitors and all Oregonians through its properties and programs, and recognizes that the state's resilience and beauty are strengthened by its diverse population. Oregon State Parks are public spaces where all are welcome. We value and serve everyone, and we are committed to providing safe and equitable access to state parks and agency programs. The department will not tolerate racism, harassment, discrimination or intimidation in any form.

Accessibility

We strive to welcome park visitors of all abilities and are working diligently to remove barriers to accessing our facilities, programs and services. Our ultimate goal is to improve outdoor recreational opportunities for everyone. 

Accessibility Standards and Design Guidelines

Many parks and recreation settings across Oregon are not accessible to people with disabilities and inconsistent information exists about which are accessible. Through the work of ADA Coordinator Helen Kesch and the Advisory Working Group, accessibility design standards are now available. The standards will help remove mobility barriers in our parks, as well as document universal design standards and guidelines for new park improvements.

Accessibility Design Standards for all Future Projects-2023
Legislation and Accessibility Design Standards

HB 2171 was introduced to the Oregon Legislature by Governor Brown to implement many of the recommendations from the Governor’s Taskforce on the Outdoors: 2020 Framework for Action completed by OREC. The bill was one of the governor's priorities, and had support from the Governor’s Racial Justice Council Environmental Equity Committee.

SECTION 4. (1) The State Parks and Recreation Department shall establish statewide recommended standards for the design of recreation projects, including trails, docks and public recreation access points, to ensure that state recreation areas are accessible to members of the public of all mobility levels.
(2) The department shall apply the statewide recommended standards to all future department recreation projects.

2021 ADA Transition Plan

The 2021 ADA Transition Plan identifies those barriers to parks and park programs for people with disabilities, and provides a roadmap for removing them. Identified barriers range from inaccessible picnic areas and restroom facilities to parking lots with limited accessible parking. To develop this plan, we surveyed 273 unique facilities and identified 4,872 individual barriers, then grouped them into categories defined by the level of complexity and cost. The plan calls for remediation efforts to begin in July 2021.

We are also adding accessibility information and photos to our park web pages so visitors can plan trips that meet their accessibility needs. Example (opens in a new window).

We have trained 75 OPRD park rangers and managers as ADA Site Evaluators and are developing accessibility training to deliver to all OPRD staff in the near future.

How to request information in an alternate format

An individual may request any of our public documents in an alternate format by sending an email or by calling 1-800-551-6949. Alternate formats are available in large print, braille, audio tape, computer diskette, and oral presentation. 


Contacts

Accessibility

Helena Kesch, ADA Coordinator, 503-881-4637
For questions related to the Americans with Disabilities Act, universal access and/or the OPRD transition plan

Jenna Marmon, Lead Planner
For questions about how these fit into your site design

Tracy Johnson, Construction Project Manager
For technical questions about the OPRD Accessibility Design Standards

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Equity & Engagement Coordinator
503-779-9966

Resources

2021 ADA Transition Plan

2021-23 OPRD Affirmative Action Plan

House Bill 2171 (see Section 4)

Governor's Task Force on the Outdoors: 2020 Framework for Action (see universal design standards on page 11)

Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards Chapter 10: Outdoor Developed Areas (access-board.gov)

Oregon Accessibility Travel Guide features Beaver Creek at Brian Booth State Park