2013 RECREATION, PARK, and OPEN SPACE ... - Titusville City Hall

The park maintenance person should be well trained in all aspects of park maintenance. Attendance at a park
maintenance management school is highly recommended. The National Recreation and Park Association sponsors
several such schools across the country. The closest is held at Olgebay Park in Wheeling, West Virginia in January or
February each year.
The same maintenance person should also be a member of the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society. They regularly
sponsor, one- and two-day training sessions in most areas of park maintenance. As well, the National Recreation and
Park Association also provides publications dealing with current maintenance issues in parks and recreation.
He or she should be well trained in ball field maintenance, turf care, vehicle and equipment maintenance, and building
and facility maintenance. Other training for specific programs and facilities may also be necessary.
He or she will also need a Pesticide Applicator Certification from the PA Department of Agriculture in category 23 for
parks. Another option is to be certified as pesticide technician under the supervision of a Certified Pesticide Applicator
within the Public Works Department.
ADA Compliance
Ensuring accessibility to all facilities not only accommodates those with disabilities, but also makes it easier for the
general public to use the facilities. It is imperative that the City of Titusville and all other municipalities take steps to
provide accessibility for all park users.
Accessibility, in design terms, is described by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which guarantees equal
opportunity for individuals with disabilities to participate in the mainstream of public life. To do so, the ADA sets
requirements for facilities to prevent physical barriers that keep people with disabilities from participating.
Titusville and other municipalities should move to bring all recreational facilities into compliance with these
standards. When recreational facilities are built or altered, they must comply with the ADA standards. This includes
providing an accessible route to the area of use and to spectator areas. With regards to complying with ADA, these
standards must be taken into consideration:
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, enforced by the Department
of Justice. Title II defines the requirements for providing accessible buildings, accessible routes, parking,
playgrounds, drinking fountains, seating areas, and many other items associated with the recreation
environment. www.ada.gov
Draft Final Accessibility Guidelines for Outdoor Developed Areas, October 19, 2009, www.access-board.gov sets
minimum requirements for accessible trails, access routes, resting opportunities, benches, trash receptacles,
and other outdoor recreation opportunities. To date these guidelines have not been incorporated in the
Department of Justice accessibility standards and are, therefore, not enforceable.
American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) “Standard Specification for Determination of Accessibility of
Surface Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment” (ASTM F 1951) - defines minimum requirements for
accessible protective surfacing materials.
Generally speaking, all recreation facilities must provide the appropriate number of ADA compliant parking spaces, an
accessible route from the parking space to each facility, and each facility must meet certain ADA standards for use by
persons with disabilities.
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