New handicap parking spaces at the fair have created some criticism, but the positive comments have far outweighed the negative, according to Fair Board member Regan Kelsey.
“I’ve probably had 300 or more people tell me it’s the greatest thing we’ve done and I’ve had about 20 complaints,” said Kelsey. “We’re not trying to alienate anybody. We’re trying to make a better fair. To me it’s a no-brainer. We don’t need vehicular traffic coming in and out of our main gate.”
Fair officials ended a long-standing tradition this year of allowing handicap parking in the area around Grandstand Arena. The fact there have been several close calls where people were nearly hit by cars was a driving force behind the decision.
David Carden says he understands the emphasis on safety and agrees that should be a top priority. But Carden doesn’t understand why Fairest of the Fair contestants were allowed to pull in the main gate Monday night while he was denied access. Carden has a daughter who uses a wheelchair.
“If it’s a safety issue, you still had as many cars going in and out of there as ever,” said Carden. “I guess what they’re saying is handicap people are bad drivers and non-handicap people are good drivers. If it’s a safety thing, keep everybody out.”
Carden says denying handicap parking in an area where other people can park violates ADA guidelines. That information is available on www.ada.gov.
“You have to have one handicap parking space designated for every 25 parking spaces,” said Carden. “That’s the law.”
Shelley Brown, 87, also expressed irritation with the new handicap parking policy saying, “I don’t know who the members of the Fair Board are, but they are obviously more interested in the bottom line than helping the handicapped citizens of Warren County have a great experience at the Warren County Fair.”
Kelsey says pageant contestants are allowed to park inside the gate because they have a dress and make-up bag to carry. He said contestants don’t present a problem because they come for the pageant and don’t leave for hours.
“They are coming for a fair-sponsored event and they are not coming and going,” said Kelsey, who indicated the handicap parking decision was made “late in the game” this year and could be modified to include pageant contestants in the future. “What we’re trying to do is make the fair better every year and handicap parking is one of the things we’ve addressed this year. We’re happy with the way it’s turned out and I think most people are too.”
Kelsey said with a new play area by the chicken barn this year, keeping vehicular traffic out is especially important.
Carden says he thinks the rules should be evenly enforced. He says if this is a permanent move, fair officials should strive to find better handicap spots in the future.
“In the handicap space where we ended up parking, my daughter had to ride her wheelchair in the road just to get to the fair and it’s dangerous to have a wheelchair in the road,” said Carden. “She can’t go through the gravel and the bumps like everyone else. She doesn’t have one of those fancy electric wheelchairs. She just has a regular wheelchair.”