Near the Golden Gate, Seeking Broader Access to Parks


Dan Hill and his wife, Ann Sieck. She has joined a class-action lawsuit over access at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

By CAROLYN MARSHALL - Published: March 18, 2008 - New York Times

SAUSALITO, Calif. — While other visitors hiking the majestic bluffs known as the Marin Headlands stare out toward mesmerizing views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean, Ann Sieck gazes at the ground, puzzling over a rock jutting up from the path.

For Ms. Sieck, who has multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair, the rock is the kind of obstacle that forces her to stay mindful of potential hazards overlooked by most visitors.

“When I meet with a barrier — especially a man-made barrier like a wooden bridge with steps at the end — it gets me in the stomach,” said Ms. Sieck, 58, an avid hiker before the disease sapped her ability to walk 12 years ago. “It makes me angry, but it’s a feeling of impotent anger.”

In the hope of lessening that feeling, Ms. Sieck has joined a federal class-action lawsuit against the National Park Service and its Golden Gate National Recreation Area, a series of parks and open spaces that traverse 75,000 acres of public land and 59 miles of Pacific shoreline and include landmarks like Alcatraz and Muir Woods.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/18/us...th&oref=slogin

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This is a tough nut to crack Cayo, while I agree in principle, it saddens me to see that the badly underfunded NPS is the target of class action litigation. Years of court and legal fees will only deter their progress in improving the grounds for everyone.

I was there a few years ago and was mostly able to get around in my manual chair with the help of my friends. Muir woods has a huge boardwalk in place and, while it does have some steep ramps/grades, we were able to get through.

In my own experience at scores of NPS sites nation-wide, most are making slow, but steady attempts at improving accessibility. My chief complaint at this point would be to those who have been "winging it" without expertise or consultation. The worst is adding grab bars to an already-too-small restroom stall and calling it accessible (North Cascades, Volcano NP, and others).

As an avid supporter and fan of the NPS, my hope is to help, not hinder their progress with this almost-daunting effort.

I agree, Cindy.

sometimes, lawsuits are the only way to get changes in place, and raise awareness.

contrariwise, the parks are sadly underfunded... and certainly don't have the fundus operandi to pay big claims, or make swift amendments.

the article just caught my eye, as I was born and raised in the San Francisco area, and have clambered all OVER the GGNRA for many decades.

from climbing the cannon emplacements to scrambling up the cliffs, and hiking down to the beaches...

glad I did it when I could, 'cause it's no longer in the cards for me.

some people just have to accept that there's things they will never be able to do again, and places they won't be able to go.

I was a little confused because where she's at in the pic is totally accessible.

I was at Muir woods a couple of years ago and was impressed at how accessible it was.

When I lived in Monterey, Big Sur had a fabulous trail completely paved and accessible.

A wheelchair user will never have the same accessibility as a non wheelchair user at every location - it's not ideal, but it's how it is when there aren't unlimited resources. I think the parks service is doing a pretty good job considering the very limited funding they're receiving.

Fundraising efforts by non profits to help fund accessiblity projects might be a good place to start.