Pool ADA compliant

The city of Fallon Outdoor Pool has recently upgraded the facility to meet guidelines established by the Americans with Disability Act.

Ryan Swirczek, head of city public works, said a full ADA upgrade took place at the pool from October 2013 to May 24, 2014.

“The bathrooms received an upgrade to meet ADA requirements,” Swirczek said. “There was also a wheelchair lift that was installed right next to the stairs, an aquatic lift that lowers wheelchair bound individuals into the pool, we redid the plumbing and 80 percent of the electrical, added a concession stand and redid the office area in the building.”

According to ADA, people with disabilities were, for too long, excluded from participating in many recreational activities, including swimming. The revised 2010 standards change that. For the first time, the 2010 standards set minimum requirements for making swimming pools, wading pools, and spas (pools) accessible. Newly constructed and altered pools must meet these requirements. Public entities and public accommodations also have obligations with respect to existing pools. State and local governments must make recreational programs and services, including swimming pool programs, accessible to people with disabilities. Public accommodations must bring existing pools into compliance with the 2010 standards to the extent that it is readily achievable to do so.

ADA pool guidelines state the 2010 standards require that newly constructed or altered swimming pools, wading pools, and spas have an accessible way for people with disabilities to enter and exit the pool. The standards also provide technical specifications for when a means of entry is accessible, such as, for pool lifts, the location, size of the seat, lifting capacity, and clear floor space.

The standards also explain whether a newly constructed or altered pool needs to have one or two accessible means of entry and exit. Section 242 provides that large pools (pools with 300 linear feet of pool wall or more) must have two accessible means of entry and exit. One means of entry/exit must be a fixed pool lift or sloped entry; the other entry can be a transfer wall, transfer system, or pool stairs. Small pools (pools with less than 300 linear feet of pool wall) must provide at least one accessible means of entry/exit, which must be either a fixed pool lift or a sloped entry.

According to ADA guidelines public facilities should be accessible to people with disabilities. The ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Restrooms, handicap stalls must measure at least 60-by-56 inches. In doing so, the wheelchair will have enough space to make a 180–degree turn. Toilet bowls must be no higher than 19 inches off the floor. Sinks and counters must be no more than 34 inches high and should have clear space underneath for knee clearance. Knobs and other mechanism for the restrooms must be able to be operated with one hand.

The outdoor pool is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.–noon and 1-6 p.m. for open swim and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission for children under 5 is free and adults are $1.50 and children and seniors are $1.