Success Stories in Design: The Versluis Park
By Scott, Gregory; Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 118-124Publication Date: March-April 2008
Paper outlines a project to provide universal access to a waterfront township park in Plainfield Township, Michigan. The park, situated by a man-made lake resulting from a sand and gravel mining operation, initially had only one accessible area, the picnic shelter. The park now features a gently sloping concrete entrance walk, two boardwalk ramps, and accessible fishing stations on the floating fishing pier. A water access ramp and transfer station enable transfer from a wheelchair into the water. A viewing deck with companion seating areas allows friends and families to sit together side by side in a social setting. The railings along the ramps and the viewing deck feature pickets that reach up part of the way, with the remainder of the railing closed off by strands of stainless-steel braided wire running horizontally; this provides a more open view for people moving about in wheelchairs. The inclusive design of the park allows people of all abilities to recreate together.
Published by: Thomas Land Publishers, Inc. (Website:http://www.thomasland.com)
National Stroke Association (Web Site: http://www.stroke.org )
This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number J54327
