Department of Justice Seal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CRT

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2001

(202) 616-2777

WWW.USDOJ.GOV

TDD (202) 514-1888


JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REACHES AGREEMENT ON ACCESSIBILITY OF MICHIGAN

STADIUM TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES


WASHINGTON, D.C. Old Kent Park Stadium, a baseball park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, will make its facilities more accessible to persons with disabilities under an out of court settlement agreement reached today with the Justice Department.

The agreement resolves a complaint filed with the Department alleging that the stadium, built in 1994 and renovated in 1996, violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). West Michigan Baseball Limited Partnership, owner of both Old Kent Park Stadium and the Whitecaps single A baseball team, has worked closely with the Department of Justice over the past few years since the complaint was filed, to make the Stadium more accessible.

"This agreement ensures that the Old Kent Park Stadium is fully accessible for the hundreds of people with disabilities who attend Whitecaps games," said Assistant Attorney General Ralph F. Boyd, Jr. "The owners of Old Kent Park Stadium have been very aggressive in addressing accessibility concerns. We applaud them for taking steps to resolve problems quickly as they were identified."

As a result of the Department of Justice's investigation, West Michigan Baseball Limited Partnership has already taken steps to:

  • increase the number of seating locations that are accessible for people who use wheelchairs

  • ensure that those seats have lines of sight that allow people who use wheelchairs to see even if a spectator in front of them is standing

  • improve the accessibility of routes throughout the stadium, such as from the entrance of the stadium to box seats and from locker rooms to the dugouts

  • improve accessibility in skyboxes for people who use wheelchairs

Under the agreement the stadium owners will also:

  • further improve the accessibility of routes outside and inside the stadium, such as from designated parking areas to the entrance

  • ensure that toilet rooms, particularly those serving the outfield pavilion and the concourse level of the stadium, are fully accessible

  • take steps to make the outfield picnic areas fully accessible

  • make the clubhouse areas, which are used by players, stadium employees, and members of the press, fully accessible

  • ensure that people with disabilities and their companions have the opportunity to purchase tickets through the same ticket outlets, during the same hours of operation, and at the same locations as tickets are provided to people without disabilities

Western Michigan Baseball Limited Partnership also agreed to continue, for two years, to provide free transportation for any individual with a disability and his/her companion who purchase tickets for a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday game, and to reduce the price of tickets for accessible seating areas by $1.50 per ticket for the next three seasons.

The ADA, passed in 1990, prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities by a variety of public and private entities. Title III of the ADA requires public accommodations, such as stadiums, that were built after January 26, 1992, to comply with the ADA Standards for Accessible Design.

Individuals interested in finding out more about the ADA, or today's settlement agreement, can call the Department's toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383/TDD or visit the ADA Home Page at: www.ada.gov/adahoml.htm

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