Our History
Members of the Mobility Impaired Committee
Founded in 2015, the Mobility Impaired Committee’s (MIC) goal is to facilitate life in the Village of Garden City for residents with physical challenges. Handicapped parking, ADA bathrooms and wheelchair access are some of the issues our committee worked on with the Village and business community.
The MIC was started by local activist Gerry Kelly. Kelly, diagnosed with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, has spanned the gamut of walking with a cane, a rolling walker, and now a wheelchair and, therefore, became all too familiar with public access limitations in our community. He launched one of the MIC’s first projects: gaining handicap street spaces on 7th Street. It was a long fight*, but the MIC succeeded. Three new handicap spots were added on 7th Street and additionally, access aisles were added to the spots in the 7N and 7S parking lots, ensuring that people can safely enter and exit their vehicles with enough space for mobility devices.
Handicap parking in Lot 7S with access aisles
*Click here to learn more about the fight for handicap parking
Garden City Pool employee and the limited mobility gate, courtesy of the Garden City News.
The MIC then worked with former Commissioner Paul Blake and the Pool staff to bring the chair lift out of storage. Now, this chair lift provides easier access for those with limited mobility to get in and out of the Adult pool. Our partnership with then Commissioner Blake extended to adding an ADA ramp between the mezzanine and the pool deck. When days open with long lines at the mobility gate, the great Pool staff add extra attendants to meet demands.
Two members of the MIC worked with Pool staff to add bollards in front of the bathroom to ensure the door is able to open fully and mobility have enough room to enter and exit. Correspondingly, Pool staff added a non-slip mat in the bathroom to prevent falls. These changes may seem small but they make a world of difference for seniors, the mobility impaired, and caretakers. The MIC is grateful for the Rec’s receptiveness to feedback, willingness to make improvements, and spirit of innovation. We look forward to continuing to work with them.
Since it's inception, the MIC has worked closely with the Board of Commissioners of Cultural & Recreational Affairs. In 2017, then Village department head for Parks and Recreation, Kevin Ocker suggested increasing the number of accessible parking spaces to the Garden City Pool’s parking lot. These new spaces increased the amount of accessible parking by 50%. Furthermore, in consultation with the MIC, the Rec placed these spaces by the adult pool and added a more direct gate, saving seniors and those with limited mobility 200 yards of walking. This gate was originally designed to have electronic fobs that members with mobility issues could swipe to open independently, but after the MIC raised the concerns for those with limited use of their hands, the Rec added an attendant to allow any members to check in through this access point.
Pool members lining up to use the limited mobility gate
Throughout Garden City, the MIC assesses access and strives to improve it for the betterment of all residents. One successful project included lobbying the School Board to renovate the Garden City High School’s most-used bathrooms. The School Board shared that, technically, the two ADA accessible bathrooms in the high school fulfilled the requirement, however, these bathrooms were far from the auditorium and gym where most public events at the school occur. After pressure from the MIC, the School Board agreed to add the renovation to the budget.
At the Western Property Owners Association (WPOA) summer picnic at Edgemere Park, the MIC noticed the need for accessible swings in our community. We reached out to Parks and Recreation and accessible swings were added to all of our Village parks within the month.
One of our current focuses is Village Hall. We aim for all residents to be able to safely use the front door of the Garden City Village Hall. As of right now, the only accessible entrance is in the rear; this adds extra distance. Currently, the Village Hall is not ADA compliant so the MIC proposes that these needed improvements be completed swiftly.
The MIC is a local advocacy group working to improve community access for seniors and those with disabilities. When all people can safely participate in community, the whole community benefits. Please see our current priorities, and let us know if you're interested in getting involved or in need of resources.
