REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
Open comment Period June May 11th- May 29th 2009.
Proposed Accessibility Improvements at Golden Gate National Recreation Area:
MARIN HEADLANDS VISITORS CENTER
Introduction
In Marin County, the park forms the southern core of a large network of regional, state, and federal protected lands and waters (many of which are recognized as part of the UNESCO Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve). The park manages scattered concentrations of developed facilities, to provide visitors with multiple opportunities for recreation: miles of trails, preserved historic military fortifications, and scenic and historic landscapes. The Marin County national park lands feature some of the most varied landscapes in Golden Gate National Recreation Area: lush woodlands, rugged coasts, sandy beaches, meadows, marshes, grasslands, and chaparral. Much of this area has been managed as part of the GGNRA since it was established in 1972. A diverse set of park partners, many housed in historic structures, provides programs and facilities for visitors’ education and enjoyment. These include a hostel, environmental education and arts programming, equestrian facilities, and a marine mammal rehabilitation center. Park-managed visitor facilities include a visitor center, an historic Nike Missile site, scenic overlooks, campsites, and beaches ranging from wild and rugged to the developed recreational setting at Stinson Beach.
Key Experience
Orientation to the Marin Headlands area is the key experience at the visitor center. Visitors gather maps and get directions to points of interest. The many interesting exhibits inform people that there is a cultural history to the site as well as the natural history, describing the ways of life of the coastal Native American tribes, Spanish and Mexican vaqueros. Portuguese dairy farming and the military history are interpreted. The exhibits are not successfully accessible. The secondary experiences include use of the nearby restroom building and access to trails.
Proposed Accessibility Improvements & Questions for Public Input
1. Tennessee Valley Parking and Trailhead: In 2008, accessibility improvements to the site were made including grading the site and paving for new accessible parking, installation of pathways, an accessible picnic area and access route to accessible restrooms.
2. Visitors Center: The proposed mid-term accessibility improvement calls for re-grading at the parking lot and picnic area, and construction of a new accessible exterior route and entry into the visitors center.
3. Visitor Orientation, Publications and Website: Within six months the park web site will be updated with the most current available information regarding accessible facilities, areas, and programs and will be routinely updated to reflect the latest information as the park Accessibility Action and Transition plans are implemented. The web site will include specific point of contact information for those who may need to request accommodations, such as sign language interpreters, in advance. Within the short term, the park will design the primary Marin Headlands park brochure in large print and format the content for Braille, audio formats, and electronic file for posting on the park web sites. Within the short term, the park will develop a thermoplastic, raised-line map as temporary/portable visitor use and orientation. In the midterm, the proposed accessibility improvement includes the design of new wayfinding signage with tactile maps.
4. Visitor Center Restrooms: Proposed short term accessibility improvements to the restrooms include relocating the height and centerline of toilets in the accessible stalls, improving the accessible route, installing accessible signage, relocating grab bars, adjusting the opening force for doors, and adding an accessible van parking space.
5. Waysides and Interpretive Signs: Within one year, the Park proposes to develop a system-wide design and implementation plan to update all fundamental (i.e. key to enjoying the primary experience of a site) park orientation kiosks, panels and maps to include visitor information in multiple modes such as graphics, text, tactile elements and audio. Within the second year, the Park proposes to develop a comprehensive plan for the use of audio description at waysides and begin implementation of the delivery system park-wide.
Questions: Will the proposed short and midterm solutions provide adequate orientation to Marin Headlands? Please provide comment on the proposed methods (raised line maps, 3-D models, tactile maps, audio description).
6. Exhibits: Within two years, the park proposes to develop a comprehensive plan for retrofitting or redesigning exhibits utilizing the principles of universal design, Harpers Ferry Center and Smithsonian accessibility guidelines. In the short term, staff will be trained in audio description, an audio described tour will be developed and Braille versions of all exhibit text will be made available.
7. Tours and Talks: Within the short term, the park will acquire a portable assistive listening system that can be used by park visitors for tours and talks. In addition staff have identified qualified local service providers for real time captioning, live audio description and sign language interpreters; and will establish a policy where the request for these services is five days in advance and publically post the policy in the program marketing materials including brochures, advertisements, the Muir Woods web sites.
Questions: Public comment is requested on the type of assistive listening system and features that should be acquired. Comment is also requested on user experience with various models including performance and any maintenance issues. In addition, the park seeks comment on whether to establish a weekly or monthly schedule to more regularly provide sign language interpreters for day visits to Muir Woods.
8. Other Spaces: Remaining visitor use spaces not previously assessed in Phase I, such as campgrounds and trails, will continue to be assessed and put forward to the public for comment on proposed accessibility improvements in Phases 3-6 of the multi-phase accessibility assessments to GGNRA.
Additional Comments
Please provide comment on other areas of accessibility concerns that may not be presented in this summary document.
Marin Visitors Center Comment sheet (Mail Only)
(OR)
Email Us
