Parks For All

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is committed to accessibility for individuals with disabilities. This commitment is deeply embedded in our mission, vision, and values.   We believe in the power of collaboration to collectively shape a future to provide places and recreation opportunities for everyone to gather, celebrate, contemplate, and engage in activities that promote health, well-being, community, and the environment.

In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other federal and state laws, the MPRB does not discriminate based on disability in its a program, service, or activity.

Employment

People with disabilities are encouraged to apply for seasonal employment, full-time and volunteer opportunities. The MPRB does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices and complies with all regulations under the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under Title I of the ADA.

Effective Communication

The MPRB will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities.  Examples of effective communication may include, but not limited to, sign language interpreters, documents in Braille or large print format, and other ways of making information and communications accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Requests for Modifications or Disability Related Accommodations

The MPRB will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in all programs, services, and activities.

Any qualified individual with a disability who requires an accommodation for effective communication, or a reasonable modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity of the MPRB can make a request.

How to make a request:

1. When completing the online registration form for a program or activity, you can request to have an MPRB staff member reach out to you to discuss your accommodation needs.
2. Email the Therapeutic Recreation and Inclusion Coordinator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
3. Contact the event organizer or reach out to the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The ADA does not require the MPRB to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its program, service, or activity, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden.

Please reach out to the ADA Administrator for questions or concerns around ADA compliance.

Parks & Facilities

In the past 15-20 years the Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department has completed many projects that make all facilities more accessible.  Below is information on our overall ADA Transition Plan as well as information on accessible playground equipment and other projects. .

ADA Transition Plan-This plan is produced yearly.  It identifies both major and minor improvements needed to improve accessibility to all park facilities.  

Playgrounds  New  Accessible and Inclusive Equipment  for the 10 new playgrounds installed in 2024.

Playgrounds Accessible Secondary Projects  for the 10 new playgrounds installed in 2024

Riverfront 

Accessible Features at Promenade Park and Riverfront Phase 2:

• •           The site changes almost 20’ in elevation from the street to the river, but it is all done by gradual sloping the walking paths. The paths are maximum 5% for walking purposes – ADA ramps are 8%, so this is more                    gradual. There are no steep ramps.
  •           There is a detectable path throughout the south park, leading an individual to various park elements.
  •           The Pavilion floor and outdoor paving have breaks in them to accommodate people with Parkinson’s Disease – we heard in one of our work sessions that it’s helpful for people with Parkinson’s to have something in              the floor pattern to focus on as they go to take their next step during what one gentleman called “pausing” where it becomes difficult to walk.
  •           There are two family restrooms – one inside and one outside. This is helpful to provide a dignified place for someone that needs assistance from a caregiver to use the restroom.

• •           Adult changing table in family restroom

• •          Full length mirrors in the restrooms.
  •          Priority parking along Wells Street near the pavilion.
  •          The children’s play area is designed to be accessible and has music play elements.
  •          The north dock has an accessible floating dock design to help those with disabilities get into and out of kayaks and canoes.
  •          Exterior tables intentionally leave open spaces for individuals in wheelchairs to pull up without having to move chairs out of the way.
• •          Water fountains have a ground-level bowl for service animals (and other animals enjoying the site)
  •          Zero-entry splash area at the water feature’s play area.
  •          Lots of shade – trees, pavilion canopy, bandshell.  We heard the elevated importance of shade and comfort from individuals in our focus group with certain physical challenges.
  •          Landscape plants with various textures and plants that make sound as the wind blows.  We heard from visually-impaired individuals that they enjoy spaces through touch and sound, elements that you and I might                 perceive very subtly.
  •          The event lawn along Harrison has a specific soil type designed to drain very fast so that wheelchairs can enjoy the lawn soon after rain events.
  •          The Chapman Family Gardens were designed with berms surrounding to provide a less noisy space where those who may become overwhelmed and/or would rather watch the action than participate.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    DONE Below:

Kulture City at Riverfront

Kulture City the nation's leading nonprofit on sensory accessibility and acceptance for those with invisible disabilities. Sensory needs are a common medical condition in which the brain has trouble receiving and responding to information that comes in through the senses.

Riverfront Fort Wayne applied for Promenade Park to be certified as Sensory Inclusive. This process is achieved through demonstrating that the Park is equipped and accessible to people with sensory needs. Going through the certification process ensures that the facility caters to everyone with sensory needs not just autism. This includes military vets with PTSD, adults with dementia, Parkinson's disease, stroke patients just to name a few. The Sensory Inclusive Certification is available to venues, organizations, small businesses or caring individuals who want to learn more about sensory needs and how to better engage with individuals with sensory needs. 

In order to get the certification we had to have more than 80% of our Riverfront Staff pass training, and then made simple yet impactful modifications made to the location. This include making the Betsy Chapman Garden into a quiet area of the Park. We also receive sensory bags supplied by Kulture City to be available during events to meet the sensory needs of any individual attending events.

KultureCity sensory bags are available to check out at the Park Foundation Pavilion at Promenade Park. These sensory bags are designed to help sensory needs in both adults and children. Filled with items that can help lessen sensory overload and also engage, the bag items are also easily cleaned and sterilized for multiple uses. Check out the link on Kulture City to learn more: Riverfront Fort Wayne

Podcast on Special Inclusive Programming at Promenade Park

Check out a podcast with Riley Hollenbaugh, Riverfront Program and Events Manager, as he discusses special inclusive programming at Promenade Park.


DONE

Taylor's Dream Boundless Playground in Kreager Park


Boundless Playgrounds is the leading nonprofit developer of truly inclusive playgrounds where children of all abilities gain the important developmental and physical benefits of unstructured play. If you would like to learn more about this unique playground, check out the Boundless link.

Communication Board now available at Kreager Park at Tayor's Dream Boundless Playground


Enhance Communication on the Playground with the Symbol Communication Sign

Pictures and symbols are an effective way for non-verbal, speech-challenged and early-learning individuals to communicate with friends and caregivers. Placing the Symbol Communication Sign at the entrance to Taylor's Dream Boundless Playground ensures that everyone can express themselves.

With guidance from experts in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Inclusive Design, Landscape Structures developed the Symbol Communication Sign to include pictures representing nouns/pronouns, verbs, feelings, activities, and playground events as well as letters and numbers. The graphics are universally understandable and easy to use, arranged left-to-right as one would build a sentence and use industry-standard colors representing different types of words. The DigiFuse® graphics are printed on both sides of the Symbol Communication Sign.






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Community Center

Unwind Your Mind

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia is life changing. Because individuals with dementia often feel isolated and disconnected, it is important that opportunities to participate in community activities that are meaningful, creative, and social are made available to them. Such activity can provide a sense of competence, a reduction in depression, and improved relationships with family members. Studies have shown that arts, crafts, computers and social activities help slow mild cognitive loss by up to 50%.

The Parks and Rereation Department offers classes and activities at the Community Center for those those with signs of early dementia. 

A complete list of Unwind Your Mind Classes is now available.  Questions?  Please call the Community Center, 260-427-6461 or 260-427-6466. 

Also available at the Community Center, we now have Kulture City Sensory Inclusive Bags!

Check out our link on Kulture City: Community Center