ADA Transition Plan Update

Currently, the City is in Phase II of the ADA Transition Plan. In March 2021, field technicians from Accessology began evaluating City buildings, parks and trails and will continue to evaluate monthly through July 2021. The majority of public access buildings and parks have been documented. In the remaining visits, trails and large locations, such as the Wastewater plants and E.C.O.WERCS, will go through the evaluation process.

The evaluation process includes detailed photographs and measurements of any place a person can access such as entrances, buildings, restrooms, counters, parking lots, etc. When evaluations are completed, the City will receive summary reports and begin drafting our Transition plan to propose to City Council for adoption in Fall 2021.

The City of Denton is committed to city-wide ADA compliance. In September of 2018, the City contracted with Kimley Horn Associates Inc., for Phase I of the ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan. Phase I included the review of sidewalks, corridors, curb ramps, pedestrian equipment at traffic signals, and pedestrian street crossings and was completed in 2019.

Phase II of the ADA Transition Plan will review all City buildings and associated Park properties. This analysis will include but is not limited to, evaluations of accessible parking, the path of travel to building entrances, and building interior elements for public areas; as well as accessible parking, all sidewalks/paths/trails within parks, and all amenities within parks (including restrooms, buildings, playgrounds, etc.) to assess their condition with respect to compliance with ADA requirements.

Once completed, the plan will provide the Parks and Recreation Department a list of improvements that are required to be completed to meet current standards along with projected cost and a hierarchy of priorities.

On March 18, City staff provided an update on the project to the Committee on Persons with Disabilities. It is anticipated that the study will be completed toward the end of the calendar year. The ADA Transition Plan will be an integral component in the overall planning within the Parks, Recreation, and Trails Master Plan. In addition, this study is a requirement in the accreditation process in which the Parks and Recreation Department has been working to achieve.

If you are unfamiliar with the American Disabilities Act or would like background on the Act, included below is an overview of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the specific title of ADA that affects the City of Denton. Click on the hyperlink(s) to learn more.

The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law 30 years ago by President George H.W. Bush to ensure inclusion of people regardless of ability. ADA consists of five titles, and Title II (State and Local Governments and Public Accommodations) is where the City of Denton receives guidance on compliance of regulations as well as ADA standards for accessible design. Title II and the design standards were last updated in 2010.