The Lake Zurich Village Board approved a plan that is considered the village’s first steps in fulfilling a local Americans with Disabilities Act transition initiative.
The plan, touted in the mayor’s “State of the Village” plan earlier this month, calls for a broad review of existing services and facilities to better accommodate those with disabilities.
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At the Jan. 15 board meeting, trustees approved an agreement with the Hoffman Estates-based engineering, design and consulting firm WT Group for a wide-ranging review of 32 Lake Zurich parks, municipal facilities and sidewalks. The review is scheduled to begin in February and wrap in August, and is expected to put the village in compliance with Title II of the ADA, which prohibits discrimination by government entities toward those with disabilities.
Based on that audit, the village plans to begin to address accessibility and other needs, initiating specific projects that would be budgeted for after the final report.
The board approved the review at a cost of just over $52,000 and WT Group won the bid from among five proposals.
In an email interview with Pioneer Press following the board meeting, Kyle Kordell, the management services director, said the ADA improvements would have broader benefits.
“This won’t just benefit people who are disabled, but also senior citizens,” he said. “Our population is aging, with the US senior population expected to increase by 880,000 people by 2050. One-third of American[s] over age 65 will experience a disability that limits their mobility. And disability can affect any of us at any time. Having a more inclusive community is something everybody should be able to support.”
Village officials have also already made clear they plan to make certain play areas more accessible to children with disabilities, and Kordell said all this is in line with the village’s broader mandate.
“We think accessibility is vital to creating an inclusive and thriving community,” he said.