NEW CANAAN, Conn. — The Town of New Canaan and the U.S. Attorney’s Office have reached a settlement agreement, resolving accusations that some of the town’s facilities did not meet the standards set in place by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Vanessa Roberts Avery, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced the news on Tuesday afternoon, noting that the settlement agreement resolves a complaint filed by an individual alleging that some of New Canaan’s parks and sports facilities, as well as parts of the Town Hall campus, were not accessible to those with mobility disabilities.
Federal law mandates that municipalities must design their programs, services and activities to be accessible to people with mobility disabilities. Old buildings can be grandfathered in, but when municipalities alter existing structures or build new facilities, those spaces must also be made accessible to people with disabilities in accordance with the ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
Avery said that New Canaan is currently making major changes required by the settlement agreement at Waveny Park, New Canaan High School, Mead Park and the Town Hall. Some of the changes that the settlement requires include adding accessible seating, parking and routes to several sports fields and athletic facilities in the town’s high school and at Mead Park.
New Canaan is also making multiple changes to the inside and outside of Waveny House, making it more accessible. The changes at that location include the addition of an elevator. The town also plans to create an accessible route from Vine Cottage to the Town Hall.
Avery expressed gratitude to New Canaan’s leadership for cooperating with her office to resolve the investigation.
“Individuals with disabilities should have equal access to their local park and be able to cheer on their children at a local high school game without worrying about inaccessible facilities,” Avery said. “I am pleased that New Canaan has made this commitment to making its facilities more accessible to individuals with disabilities.”
Anyone who wishes to file a complaint alleging that a public entity or place of public accommodation in Connecticut isn’t accessible to people with disabilities can contact the Civil Rights Intake Specialist at the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 203-696-3000.
More information about ADA standards can be found here. One can also call the Justice Department’s toll-free information line at 800-514-0301 and 833-610-1264. More information regarding the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available here.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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