Poor access in Eugene, OR.
'I'm curious as to why, in such a supposedly progressive city as Eugene, that the vast majority of Alton Baker park is kept inaccessible to those of us with limited mobility. As it happens, I am 72 years of age, and my old joints don't allow me to walk much more than a couple of hundred feet without the need to rest. I enjoy fishing in the canoe canal at the west end of the park, but I'd like to fish the pond as well as the slough area. Unfortunately, the walking distance puts it beyond my ability. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. There should be ADA parking areas that are available to those who qualify for disabled access.'
I wonder what response you might get if you post your post with the Eugene media.
plumbertom wrote:
'I'm curious as to why, in such a supposedly progressive city as Eugene, that the vast majority of Alton Baker park is kept inaccessible to those of us with limited mobility. As it happens, I am 72 years of age, and my old joints don't allow me to walk much more than a couple of hundred feet without the need to rest. I enjoy fishing in the canoe canal at the west end of the park, but I'd like to fish the pond as well as the slough area. Unfortunately, the walking distance puts it beyond my ability. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. There should be ADA parking areas that are available to those who qualify for disabled access.'
'I'm curious as to why, in such a supposedly progr... (
show quote)
I understand your frustration plumbertom.
My SIL Has been in a wheelchair since 1996.
Still places in MD & PA that haven't made things accessible.
Make it public n good luck brother 👍🎣
plumbertom wrote:
'I'm curious as to why, in such a supposedly progressive city as Eugene, that the vast majority of Alton Baker park is kept inaccessible to those of us with limited mobility. As it happens, I am 72 years of age, and my old joints don't allow me to walk much more than a couple of hundred feet without the need to rest. I enjoy fishing in the canoe canal at the west end of the park, but I'd like to fish the pond as well as the slough area. Unfortunately, the walking distance puts it beyond my ability. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. There should be ADA parking areas that are available to those who qualify for disabled access.'
'I'm curious as to why, in such a supposedly progr... (
show quote)
I agree with Charlykilo -- write a letter to the editor.
Here in the SF Bay, there's a regional park that lets me follow a ranger in my car from the main parking lot to the pier that's normally a 3 mile rolling hill hike.
Sport
Loc: Sacramento county north. California
plumbertom wrote:
'I'm curious as to why, in such a supposedly progressive city as Eugene, that the vast majority of Alton Baker park is kept inaccessible to those of us with limited mobility. As it happens, I am 72 years of age, and my old joints don't allow me to walk much more than a couple of hundred feet without the need to rest. I enjoy fishing in the canoe canal at the west end of the park, but I'd like to fish the pond as well as the slough area. Unfortunately, the walking distance puts it beyond my ability. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. There should be ADA parking areas that are available to those who qualify for disabled access.'
'I'm curious as to why, in such a supposedly progr... (
show quote)
Tom, I may just be oversight. A letter to parks dept and building depth might do it.
plumbertom wrote:
'I'm curious as to why, in such a supposedly progressive city as Eugene, that the vast majority of Alton Baker park is kept inaccessible to those of us with limited mobility. As it happens, I am 72 years of age, and my old joints don't allow me to walk much more than a couple of hundred feet without the need to rest. I enjoy fishing in the canoe canal at the west end of the park, but I'd like to fish the pond as well as the slough area. Unfortunately, the walking distance puts it beyond my ability. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. There should be ADA parking areas that are available to those who qualify for disabled access.'
'I'm curious as to why, in such a supposedly progr... (
show quote)
Sounds like you've got some good advice Tom enlighten those people 👍
Yes, I recently contacted them. I'm still waiting for a response.
Sport
Loc: Sacramento county north. California
plumbertom wrote:
Yes, I recently contacted them. I'm still waiting for a response.
Hoping for the best for you. Elkhorn launch here has been closed for a year. No explanation.
plumbertom wrote:
Yes, I recently contacted them. I'm still waiting for a response.
Good luck and have your friends and family write letters also, the more the better
I've gotten mostly positive support on the Eugene fishing forum on Facebook. A number of locals have expressed the same complaint.
Before proceeding any further with the local parks department, I want to see just what their response will be. Once I have a gauge for their attitude on the subject, I'll have a better idea of how to proceed.
Much of what I've seen of the city government here leads me to view them as elitists. But I want to give them an honest chance to express the reasons for their discrimination.
Bring your need to either the City Council, or Lane County Commissioners. You can either do it in writing or at public meetings.
plumbertom wrote:
Yes, I recently contacted them. I'm still waiting for a response.
Hey Tom I'm also disabled after a couple spine surgery's what I do at Alton baker is as soon as I cross the bridge I hang a left before I reach the parking lot and drive down the path past the docks & ducks and follow it down to the big tube and park there I've got the blue hanger on my rear view mirror so I'm legit just don't run people down and you should be fine
I have my ADA placard, but I question whether it makes it legal to drive along that bank. I've seen that people do that, but even so, it doesn't give access to other places along the canal, like the pond area, which I've never seen.
Once the weather clears up just a little more, I'll be checking at the parks and recreation office about a vehicle access permit.
Are you referring to the pond down on the east end of the across road that goes behind autzen? If so I've fished itany times there's good fishing back in there there's one good spot from the bank but much better if you got a boat of some sort the closest place to put in is about 65 yards down that across rd it cuts off to the right and about another 30 yards from there and your on the water if you want I can get together with you and either show you where I m talking about or draw you a map I live in Springfield about 4 miles from there
Although I have a boat, it's a little big (16') for that skinny water.
I used to have a kayak, but as I aged (I'm 72) it became too much work to use it.
So I'm limited to bank access for now.
If you want to reply, then
register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.