FARMINGTON – Individuals with mobility problems will have an easier time accessing Farmington’s municipal buildings.
On Thursday afternoon, the ribbon was cut at the Farmington Community Center, marking the completion of a newly installed access ramp and automatic door opener that complies with the regulations set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Farmington started its push toward becoming more accessible in 2000 when the Department of Justice chose it as the one town in the state to be reviewed for complying with the ADA as part of Project Civic Access, an initiative by former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno to ensure access to civic buildings.
The town then received a grant for $26,000 to install the ramp at the community building, which helped defray the cost of bringing municipal buildings up to ADA code. The rest of the funds for Project Civic Access have come through in-kind donations from town employees and from money raised and appropriated at town meeting by taxpayers.
In addition to the new ramp and door at the community building, a unisex accessible bathroom has been installed at the ground level and the parking lot was reconstructed to even out a steep slope and to paint in two accessible parking spaces. Work has also been done at the Municipal Building, the Farmington Falls Fire Station, Hippach Field, Walton’s Mills Pond Park, Meetinghouse Park and the Philbrick Community Pavilion, including setting up accessible parking spaces, routes, service counters and restrooms.
“This project has been a joy. We have gone above and beyond the mandates,” said Sabra Stirling, planning assistant and ADA coordinator for the town. “We’ve really been proactive about this. Farmington is committed to providing access for every resident and every visitor.”
The process of bringing the town into compliance with ADA standards has made Stirling more aware of the struggle it is from some people to get around the community.
“It has really enlightened me,” she admits. “It’s really an eye-opener. I have a lot more compassion now for what people with physical challenges have to go through.”
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