Shoreline: ADA Self-Evaluation Plan
The City of Shoreline has developed a Park Facilities ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan to systematically identify and correct physical barriers that limit access for people with disabilities across its park system, in compliance with federal laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) of 1968. This plan, which focuses solely on physical barriers in park facilities like playgrounds, pathways, and restrooms, will guide the city’s efforts over the next several decades, with future updates slated to address programs and services as funding allows. The City deliberately chose to follow the enforceable ADA standards and the available ABA guidelines for all its park facilities, regardless of whether federal money was used for their construction or alteration.
The process required four key steps: identifying physical barriers in 21 of the city’s 41 developed park facilities; determining the required fixes and estimating their costs; establishing a removal schedule; and designating a city official, the Parks ADA Transition Plan Manager, to oversee the annual implementation. An architectural consultant was hired in fall 2024 to inspect the facilities and generate detailed checklists, photographs, and recommendations. Common barriers discovered include a lack of curb ramps and access aisles in parking areas, excessive slopes or uneven surfaces on pathways due to factors like tree roots, non-compliant mounting locations for accessories in otherwise correctly sized restrooms, and insufficient adjacent space for wheelchairs at benches.
To prioritize which barriers to fix first, the City used a two-part system based on federal guidelines and community input. The ADA Barrier Prioritization Map Tool overlays data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2016-2020) to identify areas with higher populations of individuals with disabilities, combines this with park visitor frequency data, and highlights parks mentioned during community engagement. The ADA Barrier Prioritization Matrix Tool then uses this data, federal barrier removal priorities, the potential for outside funding, the presence of unique amenities, and cost estimates to rank projects. This flexible, system-wide approach, which allows for changes and adaptations, is overseen by the City Council, who will approve projects for each biennial budget.
Community input was a vital element, guided by the City Council’s commitment to non-discrimination. The project team used inclusive and culturally appropriate methods, providing engagement materials in five languages, including Amharic and Tigrinya, and ensuring all digital content was screen-reader-friendly. Outreach specifically targeted groups most affected by barriers, such as people with disabilities, adults aged 65 and older, and their caretakers. Input was gathered from 73 community members through surveys, focus groups, and interviews, and these suggestions were formally integrated into the project prioritization criteria. A draft plan was made available for public comment between July 17 and August 15, 2025; however, no public comments were received on the draft itself, though changes were incorporated following discussions at PRCS/Tree Board and City Council meetings.
The estimated total Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) construction cost to remove all identified ADA barriers is $6,245,810, which increases to a total Project Cost estimate of approximately $10.9 million when accounting for other expenses like design and permits. The City Council established a long-term goal of 70 years for project completion, committing a target of just under $313,000 in each biennium budget. For the immediate 2025-2026 biennium, $400,000 has been allocated for the Park Facilities ADA Barrier Removal Program. The Parks, Fleet and Facilities Manager is the official responsible for the plan's implementation, and the city will track progress through a biennial ADA Progress Report, which will summarize fixed barriers, removed barriers in other projects, and a list of ADA-related requests or grievances. This comprehensive plan marks the beginning of a sustained, long-term commitment to achieving a network of ADA barrier-free Shoreline Park facilities.