Accessibility Plan
In 2021, the Province of British Columbia passed the Accessible BC Act. This legislation requires municipalities (and other prescribed organizations) to establish an accessibility committee, develop an accessibility plan, and create a process for receiving comments from the public on the plan and on barriers individuals face in or interacting with the organization. We are pleased to present the accessibility plan(External link) for the City of Parksville.
Please let us know about an accessibility challenge or barriers you have encountered.
‘Totally Accessible’ Washroom Challenge
On Canada Day after visiting all areas at the Parksville Community Park and be pleased with all the transformation done in the park, it was time to go to the brand new ‘totally accessible’ washrooms. What a challenge with the black wall blocking the washroom entrance, with the corridor not wide enough for a scooter, not able to be positioned straight in front of the washroom door, press the button to open the automatic door and enter. After many twists to position the scooter, and with the help of 3 people, I was able to finally enter! One person to hold the door for longer time to enter, one person to stop the people who wanted to enter while I am working to position the scooter. One person to open the washroom door. And the same pattern to exit. It made me sign the song: ‘Twist and shout’!!! I didn’t experience a ‘totally accessible’ washroom! I was very disappointed with this bad experience.
I returned few days later to see if I can access it again on my own, with patience and not many people in the park. I asked a person to take a video of my ‘entrance’ in this ‘totally accessible’ washroom. Same problem. I wanted to sign the same song again: ‘Twist and shout’!!! I don’t understand why there is a wall there to hide the entrances of the 2 washrooms. Why the hall is so narrow and dark. I would be scare to be on my own at night when anybody can enter in these washrooms with bad intentions!!! There is not enough space between the wall and the entrance of the washroom to position a scooter in a straight position, facing the door, pressing the button to open the automatic door! Bye the way the button is quite far from the door, inside and outside.
I tried the other ‘universal’ washroom close to the gazebo. No automatic door. A physically challenge person in a scooter would need help to open the door. When inside, the person will be trapped, not able to open the door to exit.
I really appreciate all the efforts the City of Parksville is making to make the Park more universally accessible.
I would appreciate for the benefit of everyone to make these washrooms ‘totally accessible’ by correcting and improving these facilities.
When the City of Parksville works to improve areas in the park, do they ask people in scooter to check if it is ‘totally accessible’? I would volunteer myself!
I have the video available to see the challenges a person in scooter faces to enter in the ‘totally accessible’ washroom. Let me know to whom I could send it!
Thanks for your support by continuing to make gradually Parksville universally accessible.
I really appreciate the parking zone for vans, for people with disabilities.
Good evening.
I was attempting to take my elderly mother to attend the sand sculptures last weekend only to find out there isn’t a pad on the sand to be able to wheel her around. She uses a power wheelchair with wider wheels and as soon as we rolled off the mat at the entrance the chair became stuck. The volunteers offered a low back sport wheelchair a much younger person could use or a very large four wheeled scooter. Both totally inappropriate for her. I was thinking for such a big event that goes on for over a month perhaps some type of mat could be rolled out. The area is not that big to cover. Perhaps the type used in rinks or even used mats from various industries.
It was disappointing to just have her peek through the entrance.
Access to the only entrance to the sand sculptures. Gravel is not good. Suggest using rubber mats. Plus you can’t easily get off the curb to the gravel walkway. I wrote about this issue in the survey as well.
Large events in Parksville Community Park ban parking. Unfortunately, for a town with a large seniors population, this means excluding many of your citizens. This could, however, be easily solved. Find one or two large parking areas and provide a shuttle bus from that location back and forth to the park.
I cannot access the city Hall from the front because the letdown is too high for a walker to pass. I have to lift the walker to access!!!! I carry books or documents on the walker to go teach at the Elder College. I have to park in the back but sometimes the parking spots are occupied. I have to park further and not convenient to take out the walker from my van. Solution: make the front parking accessible! Thanks!
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