April 19, 2024

ADA work planned for Woodland Park

By Jamee A

As a part of the city’s efforts to make city parks more accessible, ADA upgrades were approved for Eversman baseball field at Woodland Park. The upgrades include ADA accessible walkways, parking stalls and a concrete slab beneath the bleacher seating. (Jamee A)

Steps are being taken to make Woodland Park more accessible. As part of the city’s efforts to remove barriers and create accessibility for people with disabilities, city council approved American with Disabilities Act upgrades at Eversman Baseball Field at Woodland Park.

“As an overall goal of the parks system, we are trying to improve ADA compliance throughout our parks,” parks administrator Nathan Unsworth said. “Working with the schools, we identified Eversman as a priority, and we are working to make it more handicapped accessible around Eversman field along with the shelter and the restroom at the park.”

The project includes new ADA accessible walkways, parking stalls and a concrete slab beneath the bleacher seating. The city worked with the Newton Community School District in a joint effort to prepare the plans for the upgrades.

The contract for the work was awarded to low bidder Jerry Keenan Concrete, of Newton, in the amount of $28,479. Two additional bids were received from TK Concrete, of Pella, and Mid-State Construction, of Baxter, in the amounts of $30,692 and $41,503, respectively.

The improvements will be paid for utilizing 2015 bond proceeds that were made available by the Newton Fire Department receiving outside funding for the new pumper/tanker truck. It is scheduled to be completed on or before Oct. 31.

“I can assure you that the baseball team and the community school district appreciates our efforts to support them,” Mayor Mike Hansen said.

The project is a part of the city’s transition plan that identifies locations in need of structural modification to meet ADA requirements and identifies and removes barriers to accessibility for people with disabilities. Additional needs currently on the city’s radar include handicapped-accessible parking and accessible routes in city parks.

“As a city we need to strive to make everything handicap accessible and be more open and welcoming to all of our park users,” Unsworth said.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com