Accessibility Audit at Overland Park
It was a beautiful day to be outside, and my two pups were loving every minute of it—soaking up the sunshine and sniffing everything in sight. We wandered along the paved and crusher fine trails, through the grassy field, and around the different facilities, including a basketball court, tennis court, and baseball field. In total, it took us about 30 minutes to walk the park and assess its accessibility. That’s how quick and easy it is to use the Mobility Assessment Tool once you’re trained and familiar with it.
This powerful tool was designed by people with disabilities in partnership with Fort Collins Natural Areas to go beyond just meeting ADA regulations and really capture usability and potential barriers. It’s all about understanding how people actually experience the space. Let me walk you through how it works.
The accessibility tool is divided into four categories: Parking, Signs and Features, Facilities, and Trails. Each category has a list of requirements related to accessibility, and each requirement gets a rating from 0 to 5.
Image from training completed with Larimer County Natural Resources
For example, in the Parking section, the first requirement is “Dedicated number of accessible parking spaces.” The possible answers range from “Unclear or no parking spaces,” which would get a score of 0, to “Lots of ADA and accessible parking, some large ramp size,” which would get a score of 5. The goal is to aim for scores of 3 or higher, showing moderate to high evidence of accessibility for that requirement.
You might notice that some of the requirements in this tool are subjective. For example, what does “lots of ADA and accessible parking” really mean? That’s intentional because the goal of this tool isn’t just to meet the bare minimum standards set by the ADA. It’s not about simply checking a box to say there’s one ADA spot for every 25 parking spaces. Yes, it’s important to meet legal requirements, but accessibility goes beyond compliance.
When we talk about these subjective categories, what we’re really asking is: How welcoming is your space for people with disabilities? If you’re aiming to make your park or trail system a place where people of all abilities feel encouraged to visit and participate, your parking should reflect that. That might mean having more accessible parking spots than the minimum required by law. It’s about creating a space that’s genuinely usable and inviting for everyone.
Dog poop bags on uneven surface and quite high up making access challenging for a seated wheelchair user
I’ve used this tool a bunch of times, so I know the rhythm and requirements well enough to move through it pretty quickly. As I go, I take photos of spots that seem like they could use some improvements or might be tricky for accessibility—like the doggy bags that are just a bit too high or someone seated (pictured above), or the drop-off that could use some maintenance (pictured below).
Right now, Jim and I are working on making the tool available online so you can upload all your pictures and scores in one place as you go. It’ll make the whole process a lot more efficient!
Gap from run off between sitting area and basketball court making access more challenging. Recommending maintenance for fill in and/or plans for managing water run off
Now for the scoring. Overland Park ended up with a lower-than-expected average accessibility score of 0.5 across all categories. Part of that is due to some temporary factors—like ongoing construction affecting parking and the bathrooms being closed for the winter. Without these seasonal changes, the score could improve by 1-2 points.
That said, there are some great features worth highlighting! The trail has a welcoming grade with beautiful views of the ponds, and there are benches along the way, making it a nice spot to pause and take in the scenery. Although the crusher fine section is a bit soft for most wheelchairs, the overall experience is pleasant, and the grade toward the pond is about 5%—steep but doable if you’re looking to fish.
One area that could use some attention is the path to the baseball field stand, which is currently grassy and uneven. Making this route smoother would really help improve accessibility and usability.
Jim Mull testing the accessibility to reach dog bags at Lions Park Open Space
Bottom line, The Mobility Assessment Tool is a game-changer for looking at accessibility from the perspective of someone with a disability. It goes beyond just meeting ADA requirements and actually focuses on how usable a space is. Once you’re familiar with it, the tool is quick and easy to use and works great for all kinds of open spaces—like parks, trails, and recreation areas. It really helps pinpoint practical changes that make outdoor spaces more welcoming and accessible for everyone. Contact Me if you are interested in learning more for a free 20 min tutorial on the tool!