Below is a message from GMRPTC Executive Director Renee Mattson. You can reach her at renee.mattson@gmrptcommission.org.

The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC) travels across Greater Minnesota for our monthly Commission Meetings, which are a highlight for the Commissioners as well as for Joe and me. We have the opportunity to host our meetings at designated facilities if there are adequate meeting spaces or, more often, at a nearby public facility, with a tour of a designated facility following the meeting.

One feature of our meetings that too often falls short is the accessibility in these public meeting spaces. One would assume that all these places we meet, being public, would provide handicap access to all areas of the building, especially the restrooms. What we’ve sadly discovered is that all too often buildings are not compliant with some aspect of ADA requirements.

I’ve learned embarrassing lessons that nothing can be taken for granted and one cannot simply assume that in this day and age, fully 36 years since the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law, a building will provide access.

We’ve met in older city hall buildings that lacked accessible restrooms, and we’ve also recently met in a brand-new city hall with poor entry-door accessibility. This building was designed by a large, well-known architectural and engineering firm and built within the last two years. Yet to get entry, someone in a wheelchair would almost fall backward down the nearby steps trying to open the door. The automatic door openers were also in the wrong spot.

At a recent meeting of another organization, one of the committee members who uses a manual chair had difficulty in the restroom, which was barely compliant. She made the wise statement that we need to have Commitment to making spaces accessible, not just Compliant by checking the boxes.

Beginning in 2025, the GMRPTC has made universal access a priority, and our quarterly forums offer the chance to learn from experts in the field. We encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities to learn not only what is required, but also how you can go above the bare minimum and create better access for all.

If you’ve missed a forum, or want to rewatch one that particularly interests you, they are all recorded and available on the GMRPTC website:

GMRPTC Accessibility - Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission

Commitment Not Compliance, we can all do more!