BREITUNG TWP- A small group of interested residents and township officials met with grant writer Nancy Larson to begin planning for a grant application to increase the handicap accessibility of township recreation areas, including the campground, the recreation area, and ballfield.
The township has applied for a grant to help pay the cost of hiring a consultant with expertise on these issues.
The township intends to review its existing recreational sites and facilities for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Information gathered during this process will help with planning for accessibility compliance and planning for future upgrades.
The consultant, JQP Inc, will be visiting sites to inspect parking, exterior accessible routes, playgrounds, ballfield seating, shelters, toilets/shower facilities, picnic areas, benches, play courts, beach amenities, camping, boating access, and more.
Grants for such projects are available from the DNR Recreational Grant Program, IRRR Culture and Tourism Grant Program, and possibly some other sources.
Ideas for improving access included creating an accessible trail from the paved bike trail to McKinley’s beach area, an accessible fishing pier, an ADA tent site and a few accessible campsites, a cement entry pad into the water at the beach area, an accessible shower at the campground, wider sidewalks to accommodate wheelchairs, and a generator backup system at the campground, because currently there is no water available when power is out and this is a health and safety issue.
At the baseball field, they identified needs for a wider fence opening onto the field, a wider pathway from the parking lot to the field, accessible spectator seating, and that the trail from the ballfield to the monument/rest area bathrooms may need to be widened.
At the skating rink and playground area, the warming shack door needs a ramp and door opener, poured-in-place rubber playground surfacing, a more accessible sidewalk, and an accessible bathroom.