New Ramp Not Useful for Everyone

Gaining access or leaving Two Strike Park at Henrietta Avenue pose several obstacles but most critical is that the ramp it is nearly impossible for wheelchair users.
Photo by Mary O’KEEFE

By Mary O’KEEFE

At the far west end of Two Strike Park, 5107 Rosemont Ave., sits a very nice American with Disabilities Act compliant ramp – the only problem is the ramp cannot be easily accessed by wheelchair to enter or to exit the park.

The ramp is part of a project that began over a decade ago as part of a walking path from Two Strike Park to Eagle Canyon Channel. Individuals in a wheelchair, for example, can easily travel from the east side of the park to the west side but when coming upon the ramp to the exit/entrance to the park on Henrietta Avenue they encounter a dirt path at the end of the ramp, an uneven wooden bridge across the wash, another dirt path, a metal K-rail-type fence that must be traversed and then more dirt that leads to a broken curb. Accessing the park from the west side at Henrietta Avenue is also nearly impossible for those in a wheelchair.

Sara Quan is a local resident who is a wheelchair user. She said that many wheelchairs are lightweight, which makes it especially difficult to traverse these types of obstacles. The broken curb makes the area even more dangerous as a wheel can easily get stuck, causing the chair to tip.

“The hardest part is getting stuck. Most of the time you are by yourself, so you are out of … luck,” she said.

Quan added that people can easily see how uneven is the wood floor or deck of the bridge. Those in wheelchairs would have to go back up the ramp to find another way out of the park rather than exit via Henrietta Avenue.

Fixing the issues is problematic because questions arise as to the location of the property line and who is responsible for what area. A spokesperson with Los Angeles County Dept. of Parks and Recreation said the end of the ramp is not their property but belongs to the County’s Flood Control District, which is part of the Dept. of Public Works, Los Angeles County. But it is not clear where the Parks Department property ends and the DPW, LA County property begins.

“Public Works is talking to Parks [department] about the trail issue,” said Steven Frasher, spokesman for DPW, LA County.

The two departments are now working on solutions; CVW will follow up on this issue.