Vancouver's Charleston Park is an off-the-(sea)wall experience

Sitting by myself at the base of this waterfall, it's hard to remember that I am in the heart of Vancouver, just minutes away from the busy Cambie Street corridor and city hall. I have walked, limped, hobbled, and rolled past this quiet oasis as my medical condition has progressed over the years, never entering because I assumed it was strictly an off-leash dog park. This park is clearly much more than a popular spot to let Rover rollick with newly formed packs of 30 or more dogs at a time.

Access to the park's north end is along the seawall between Granville Island and the Cambie Street bridge. If you are arriving via the seawall route I suggest approaching from Granville Island as that section of seawall is much more user friendly to those who use mobility devices of all kinds. Approaching the park from the Cambie Street bridge along the seawall involves a rough and painful roll over poorly laid cobblestone at Leg in Boot Square. If travelling via the Canada Line get off at the Olympic Village station or if driving, park there. Make your way along West 6th Avenue to Leg in Boot Square. Once there you will see the park sign. Follow Sawyer's Lane to the entrance at Greenchain. If you want to reach the top of the waterfall, approach the park from steeply graded Laurel Street and coast down the hill.

My Birder friends tell me this is a Red Shafted Flicker

Once in Charleston Park enjoy the views, the birds, and the serenity. The park is built on a bluff but has good accessible paved paths. The playground is accessible but there is no adaptive play equipment. There are no washrooms but there are lots of places to sit. There are also paths of bark mulch leading to the quieter areas of the park . It takes some power to access these less travelled trails.

Don't forget to join us this Saturday, April 30th. for the finale of the City of Vancouver's month long Earth Day celebration. The event is at Everett Crowley Park (see "Paradise Recycled" posting).  For event details follow the link http://www.earthdayvancouver.org/.

Former Olympic Village goes for gold but lands bronze

There is a lot to like about the green space around the former site of the 2010 paralympic athletes village, now called Village on False Creek. But when held up to the "standard of Olympic excellence" it doesn't make gold.

Just metres away from the Main Street Science World Skytrain station, it's very accessible by public transit.  There is also plenty of designated parking for PWDs in the area. Way finding is excellent with lots of maps and tactile and auditory direction finding.

The views along the seawall are spectacular and there are many places to sit including cozy accessible nooks. There is an enclosed off-leash dog park for large and small dogs and the gates are not hard to open or pass through if you are in a wheelchair.

Unfortunately I saw no evidence of washroom facilities, the children's play area was not completely barrier free and there was no adapted play equipment.

The Village could have still qualified for a silver in accessibility if it were not for the completely inaccessible man-made habitat island. The island is one of the main features of the green space around the village so I find the decision not to have accessible access baffling.

One of the goals of the 2010 Olympic legacy was to use the event as a springboard to create a more inclusive, barrier free world class city. Moving forward I am confident the city will use its creative and inclusive energy to get us onto the island.

AccessEco BC gets new equipment and an editor

This is the  Australian-made Frontier all terrain off road wheelchair. It is really amazing but not readily available in North America. I was able to acquire this equipment through a Federal/Provincial grant from the EATI program. If you are disabled and live in BC you may qualify for any equipment and devices necccesary to enter (even at a volunteer level) or maintain employment. Call the hotline at 1-877-333-7554 or email them at EATI@bcpsn.org  

MORE GOOD NEWS! I would like to welcome Annette Murray to the AccessEco BC team, She has volunteered to act as a much needed and appreciated editor of the blog. While we are talking positive changes, the City of Vancouver's parks department has reorganized their website and has an Accessible Services list that is sure to impress. Check it out http://vancouver.ca/parks/

Next time we will see if the green space at the former Olympic Village (now the Village on False Creek) makes it to AccessEco BC's accessibility podium.

Not wanted on the voyage

"Clang clang clang went the trolley, ding ding ding went the bell." Judy Garland Meet me in St Louis.

Well I heard a lot of clang myself when AccessEco BC wanted to take a little trip aboard these lift-fitted vehicles.  First, customer service told me that the city's stopping idling policy did not allow the trolley company to run its lift service. I checked with the city and received an email from the Vancouver Trolley Company President Jim Storie who said it was "news to us here at the trolley company that we are not allowed to use our lifts". So I called the next day ready to tour at my own pace as the website advertises. www.vancouvertrolley.com

Again, I was told the trolley company did not operate the lift.  I explained about the email and was told someone would call me back. That morning I received a call from Lorne Richard, Director of Operations. He told me that they do not operate the lifts because the city gives them tickets for idling too long. He also said it was not safe at all the stops and that many attractions where the trolley stopped were not accessible. I assured him that it was his lucky day and that AccessEco BC was willing to help them work out the kinks. He did not have the heart to say no. Then I received another email from Jim suggesting I call him. I did so and reiterated my offer to assist. We ended the call when Mr.Storie, in frustration blurted out "and then there is the issue of taking 10 minutes to tie down a chair, and they want out after a couple of blocks". What part of hop on, hop off  and tour at your own pace doesn't he get? I assure you this is not the end of it. I may only get to ride in back of the damn bus but I will get on it.

Burnaby's Central Park: reach out and touch nature

This 90 hectare park was opened by Prince Charles and Lady Diana during their Expo visit in 1986. The township saved this gem from the saw of the logger in 1891, and it was used primarily as a military training ground up until the royal opening. Most of the park is old growth rain forest; however, there are several groomed areas and amenities. The walking trails in most of the park are packed gravel and get an A for maintenance. You do have to remember it is a forest in the true sense of the word, so be prepared for a couple of turn arounds on your first few visits.  However, all in all the level ground, thoughtful planning, and well-marked trails make this park a favorite among Metro Vancouver's disabled population.

Swangard Stadium is one of the larger facilities in the park and has excellent disability access with seating, washrooms, and track access. Other amenities in the park are a semi-accessible horseshoe pitch (no clubhouse access), a swimming pool with stair and rail access to the water, a baseball diamond, lawn bowling and tennis courts.

The children's play area is for all abilities and has some state of the art adaptive equipment. There are picnic areas and plenty of accessible parking and washroom facilities. The lower pond, accessed most easily from Imperial Street, is a great place for model boat enthusiasts to enjoy sailing their craft and features an accessible model boat slip.

Getting into the park safely is easy with fully accessible transit routes www.translink.ca . All the crosswalks are audible and some are timed. The exception is the Patterson SkyTrain entrance to the park; however, it is being made safer and should be completed by July 2011.

The one black eye is the pitch and putt golf course. I approached the man at the counter and he was very clear that neither wheelchairs, strollers or wheeled club carriers were welcome. I may have to go hit a few balls down there with my legal advisor Leonard Biblitz. I'll keep you posted on how that goes . For more information go to www.burnaby.ca and follow the links to Central Park.

Jack Poole Plaza has its ups and downs when it comes to accesibillity

All world class cities have a public square or gathering spot.  Rome has St. Peter's Square, Venice has Piazza San Marco, and Vancouver BC has Jack Poole Plaza. What this very new public square (opened in 2010) lacks in the historic grandeur of the aforementioned gathering places, it makes up for with its natural beautiful surroundings and its architectural uniqueness. The plaza is located on the roof of Vancouver's Trade and Convention Centre. www.vancouverconventioncentre.com Inside, the centre is completely accessible, but the grounds around and to the centre are fraught with danger.

The main culprit is the unevenness of the ground in the plaza and the adjoining sections of the seawall. But there are other hazards as well. The crosswalk accesses along Canada Place at both Burrard and Thurlow street entrances are not audible, nor is the elevator that takes you from Coal Harbour (a separate and beautiful park we will blog of in the future) to the plaza level or the elevator that takes you to the rooftop.

Glass panel ensures you can see the view unobstructed even from a wheelchair.

The mountains provide a beautiful backdrop

In the summer the rooftop made of grass is home to a bee colony

Don't get tripped up on the negative - visit Jack Poole Plaza anyway.

The true north strong and barrier free

A new day is dawning for Eco Tourism in British Columbia's North. Like the first pioneers to settle this hostile and beautiful landscape, people with disabilities are discovering the new frontier of accessibility.
The initiatives vary in size and scope and range from wheelchair friendly modifications over the Skeena bridge, disability access wilderness tours, to fully accessible hunting and fishing lodges. Over the next while as we grow AccessEco Bc hopes to line up reporters in communities through out the province. Until then check out this link full of useful information for planning a trip, and measuring up our own communities.www.measureupthenorth.com