A Picnic, a Courthouse, and a Group of Capable Activists
The Disabilities Caucus of the Iowa Democratic Party gathered on June 8 at Columbus Park to advocate for better integration of people with disabilities into everyday life. About 70 people with disabilities, leaders of the caucus, representatives from assorted presidential campaigns, and party staff members enjoyed a sunny and quite comfortable afternoon at Columbus Park.
Among the speakers was Polk County Auditor Jamie Fitzgerald. The auditor’s office is responsible for elections and Fitzgerald talked very briefly about registering to vote. If a Polk County resident needs help registering to vote due to a disability, contact the auditor’s office. Other speakers talked about evacuating the disabled in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina struck, persuading the U.S. Congress to “put teeth” back into enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), convincing employers to hire the disabled, and placing mental disabilities on a par with physical disabilities.
The party’s volunteer affirmative action officer alerted attendees to upcoming meetings regarding the Polk County Courthouse. In 1979 the courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. This limits what can be done to have a courthouse that is accessible to people with disabilities who may be plaintiffs, defendants, witnesses, lawyers, judges, jurors, or any other person needing to conduct business there. In March 2007, the Polk County Board of Supervisors hosted meetings to inform the public about the condition of the building. The June meetings will allow the public to hear the architects’ suggestions for either adding a courthouse annex or building a completely new facility.
Riding past Columbus Park on a bus, I always thought it was nothing more than a small piece of land planted with grass and called a park to provide a buffer between roadways. I discovered it is more than that. Although I did not see everything at the park due to so many people to talk with at the disabilities caucus event, the city’s Parks & Recreation web site lists the amenities at Columbus Park as including playground equipment, a wading pool, basketball courts, two tennis courts, picnic tables and grills, plus an open shelter available by reservation, a softball diamond, a bocci court, off-street parking, and restrooms. The park is located at SE 1st Street and Indianola Avenue. It’s just south and west of where the Raccoon River meets the Des Moines River. The #6 and the #8 buses go past the park, although the #8 runs only Monday through Friday and only the #6 buses that go to Southridge Mall will get you to the park.
Guest Author: M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa.
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2 responses so far ↓
1 M.R. Field // Jun 10, 2007 at 1:38 am
After writing the post on the disabilities caucus, while walking home from a grocery store I encountered 8 or 9 youth sitting in chairs, with an adult supervisor in a wheelchair, selling lemonade. They were on a corner and blocking the sidewalk in two directions. Earlier, I had encountered two pickups parked across a sidewalk instead of in an adjacent parking area. Every winter, I encounter snow cleared from parking lots piled high across sidewalks. I have watched motorists park their cars so the curb cut ramp is blocked. These behaviors create hassles and irritation, and sometimes dangerous traffic situations, for me. However, for the pedestrians I know who are blind, in wheelchairs, or simply hunched-over and elderly, these unnecessary obstacles can be insurmountable barriers.
2 Lynda // Jun 19, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Thanks so much for posting about this event. I was able to do a pre-post, but couldn’t attend personally. It’s really nice to have a first-hand account of the day & I think the subjects being bridged by the disabilities caucus should be priorities throughout the state.
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