Once Seemingly MIA, Graydon ADA Talks to Resume

Councilman Paul Aronsohn said he was confused that , potential plans to make Graydon ADA-compliant with new ramps or lifts seemed to need a life vest. Now, ideas appear to soon be swimming again as summer heats up.

In March, Aronsohn, Parks & Rec officials, Engineering Department officials, Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh, Village Manager Ken Gabbert and two citizen members of disability/access advocacy group Ridgewood Community Access Network (CAN) met at Graydon Pool, where officials said the village had almost exactly a year to make the pool in compliance with ADA laws that had changed.

Preliminary talks from that meeting indicated the Parks and Rec department would work closely with the Engineering Division to build a few lifts, though no concrete decisions were made as to when, where and how much.

But then several officials, including Village Attorney Matt Rogers and Village Manager Ken Gabbert, said they didn't believe the improvements–likely to have been bonded–would be needed for compliance after all.

Talks had slowed to a snail's crawl but Aronsohn took several opportunities during council meetings to kick start more discussion on improvements.

Even if improvements aren't required per state ruling, Graydon could definitely be more accessibility-friendly, those most affected say.

There are currently three ramps to get into the pool, and, as explained by resident Deborah Glennon, confined to a wheelchair, the current setup is not a good one in terms of accessibility.

"Getting in the water is always easy," she said at the initial meeting, "it's getting out that's hard," a result of many not having the arm strength necessary to prop back into the chair.

Officials and affected citizens will again meet at the Graydon grounds on Friday, June 8 to determine what, if any, improvements could be made for both in/out of water needs and walkways to get into the pool area.

Gabbert said in an e-mail in late May that while he knows of no compliance issues at Graydon, "The Village is working with residents to look at ways to make the pool as accessible as possible."