A strategic goal for Portland Parks and Recreation (PP&R) is that parks, natural areas, and facilities are accessible to people with disabilities, ensuring that everyone has access to experience nature, parks, and programs. This metric tracks the progress on PP&R's ADA Transition Plan to address physical barriers is part of physical and programmatic access requirements established by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ADA barriers for this metric include those in community centers and pools, playgrounds, access paths of travel, restrooms, and parks facility infrastructure.

Consistent year-over-year progress has been made removing ADA barriers across the PP&R system.  While progress has been steady, it remains behind the original Transition Plan schedule. In FY 20, this work began to receive regular annual General Fund allocations of approximately $1 million to support the work of the program. This ADA Transition Plan identified 17,008 barriers that need to be addressed. To date, 3,479 identified barriers have been removed, or 20% of the total. 

In addition to the Transition Plan barriers reflected here, PP&R addresses additional barriers that have emerged at park sites and facilities since the Transition Plan documentation.

During 2013 and 2014, PP&R completed facility evaluations of publicly accessible developed park facilities to identify physical accessibility facility barriers and recommendation modifications needed to meet State and Federal accessibility standards. Undeveloped park facilities and locations without built infrastructure requiring accessibility compliance were not evaluated. Facilities evaluated included:

• City-owned parks;

• City-owned community centers and pools; and

• City-leased facilities with parks programming.

The ADA Transition Plan established a baseline inventory of barriers and assigned each barrier a classification, priority category, and likely delivery method.

Barrier removal progress is recorded when barriers are remediated. Annual reporting reflects the total number of Transition Plan barriers.

For more information and a link to the bureau's ADA Transition Plan please see:

ADA Transition Plan