Accessibility

 

Park Brochure

The park brochure is available in a variety of formats including braille, audio description, and text-only.

 

Every building on Bathhouse Row is wheelchair accessible.

NPS Photo/M. Smith

Getting Around

The Fordyce Visitor Center, Gulpha Gorge Campground, other park buildings, and all park bathrooms have functional ramps and are accessible to all persons. Bathhouse Row has a maintained, paved four to five foot wide walkway that creates a circular loop around the block. There are benches with backs on Bathhouse Row and the Grand Promenade. Grand Promenade ramp access is available directly behind the Fordyce Bathhouse and on the northern end of the block adjacent to Fountain Street. There is no ramp access on the southern end of the block near Reserve Street.

 

3D model of Bathhouse Row

NPS Photo/K. Barat

Fordyce Visitor Center

Entrance

The entrance to the Fordyce Visitor Center is approximately a quarter of a mile from the nearest parking garage at 128 Exchange Street. Visitors will need to cross Central Ave., which can be heavily trafficked. There are multiple ramped crosswalks, one of which offers immediate crossing privileges directly in front of the parking garage and in front of the Buckstaff Bathhouse. Once across the street, visitors will need to make their way north for a tenth of a mile before arriving at the Visitor Center. The entrance door has an automatic opening function, the button is located on the left hand side of the set of double doors.

Elevator & Hallways

The Fordyce has an operational elevator which allows access to all floors. Hallways in the Fordyce can accommodate most wheelchair sizes with widths ranging from 31 to 38 inches.

Restrooms

Restrooms are located on the Basement floor of the Fordyce Visitor Center. There is a men's restroom with multiple stalls with manual doors, a women's restrooms with multiple stalls with manual doors and a changing table, and a single family restroom with a manual door.

Borrow a Wheelchair

The park has two wheelchairs available to loan free of charge for use in the Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center and Museum.

Tactile Exhibits

The Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center and Museum has numerous tactile exhibits such as a touchable model of Bathhouse Row near the theater on the first floor. Additionally, interactive features in the first and second floors include levers to initiate demonstrations of water collection, rock displays, and a wrist exerciser inspired by historic Zander machines.

Braille Available

At the Fordyce Visitor Center, there are self-guided tour books in braille that visitors are free to borrow. You may request a copy from the ranger at the front desk.

 

Check out a smartphone from the Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center front desk to access audio descriptions of each exhibit.

NPS Photo/K. Barat

Audio Descriptions

Audio description is also available for all exhibits in the first and second floor exhibit halls in the Fordyce Bathhouse Museum. Ask a ranger at the front desk for an iPhone, pre-loaded with the AD Tours application. You can check out an iPhone free of charge for the duration of your exploration in museum.
Audio description is also available for the park's film, which shows every 30 minutes in the theater on the first floor. Please ask for a receiver at the front desk.

Closed Captioning

Closed captioning is available on both the park's film and the short film, "Taking the Baths," shown on the 2nd floor.

ASL Availability

ASL interpreters are available for guided tours, please submit a request two weeks in advance.

 

The Grand Promenade

NPS Photo/Ashley Waymouth

Accessible Trails

Whittington Park Trail

The Whittington Trail is a 1.2 mile flat, unpaved gravel loop that goes around Whittington Park. Parking is available on Whittington Avenue. There are multiple benches with backs throughout Whittington Park. Water is available across the street, below the Maintenance Building, at the Whittington Spring Jug Station. There are no restrooms available at Whittington Park.

Distance (one way): 1.2mi (1.9km)
Elevation: 647-685ft (197-209m)
Typical Grade: 0.6%

The Grand Promenade

The Grand Promenade is a fully paved trail with ramp access off Fountain Street and another behind the Fordyce Bathhouse. There are multiple benches with backs and waysides along the Promenade. Water is not easily available on this trail. Restrooms are available on Bathhouse Row, between the Fordyce Visitor Center and the Quapaw Bathhouse.

Distance (one way): 0.5mi (0.8km)
Elevation: 619-717ft (188-218m)
Typical Grade: 3.7%

 

NPS Photo/J. Kesler

Service Animals

In October 2018, the National Park Service (NPS) issued a policy memorandum regarding the use of service animals by persons with disabilities in national parks. The revised policy aligns the NPS policy with the standards established by the Department of Justice and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Only dogs are classified as service animals, and they must perform a specific task that assists a person with a disability. Emotional support or comfort animals are not service animals.

Service animals must follow these guidelines:

1. The service animal is under control of the handler. If the dog is out of control and the handler is unable to gain control of the dog, the handler will be asked to remove the service animal. This may include repeated barking not associated with their service work.
2. The service animal is harnessed or leashed. There are two exceptions: if this interferes with the dog’s service work or if the person’s disability prevents the use of a harness or leash. If a leash or harness is not used, the handler should be able to control the service animal using verbal commands, gestures, or other effective means.
3. The service animal is housebroken.
   

When hiking with your service animal, please note whether water and a trash can are available at the trailhead. Also pay attention to the weather, the trail description, and any wildlife active in the area.

Learn more about NPS & Service Animals.

 

The Access Pass

The America the Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series includes the Access Pass: a free, lifetime admission and discount pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. Access Passes are available online and at the Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center and Museum.