For more than 10 years, Margaret Nollau’s mother, Carol, has gone to Welch Pool to swim for one hour a day.
Carol, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis roughly 27 years ago, uses swimming as physical therapy, according to Margaret Nollau, who spoke at Monday’s State College Borough Council meeting.
“She swims every day during the summer months, rain or shine, to maintain her health and alleviate her pain,” Margaret Nollau says. “Her gait and speed after swimming is markedly improved from when she first arrives before her swim.”
However, when Welch Pool, in the 600 block of Westerly Parkway, was remodeled several years ago, Margaret Nollau says the handicap spaces were moved farther away from the pool’s entrance, creating issues for Carol and others with disabilities or ailments.
“The handicapped parking spaces were placed across a bus lane, a long stretch of cement, through a gate, and across even more cement away from the entrance of the pool,” says Margaret Nollau. “I have no doubt this is ADA (American Disabilities Act) compliant, but that certainly doesn’t make it accessible to patrons with disabilities.”
Resident Art Anderson told council that he and his wife, who is disabled, use the Welch Pool throughout the summer and the couple has also found the handicap parking spaces to be in a more challenging location.
Anderson says the distance between the handicap parking and the pool used to be 75 feet. Today, he says the distance is 305 feet.
“The problem should be clear that the handicap parking is not very handicap accessible,” Anderson says.
Anderson says there are several potential solutions to the problem, including utilizing lifeguards who are on rest periods by having them drive a golf cart to the vehicle of patrons with disabilities and shuttling them to the pool.
“There are solutions,” says Anderson. “I would like to think that people could approach this problem with creativity rather than coming up with excuses.”
Council member Theresa Lafer says she swims laps at Welch Pool and shares residents’ concerns regarding parking. She says handicap parking should be as close to the entrance as possible “because it is just wrong to have to walk that far.”
Council member Peter Morris says it’s a matter of cutting through red tape and multiple entities – Council of Governments (COG), the State College Area School District, which owns the parking lot, and the borough – working together to reach a solution.
“This is the sort of thing where cutting through red tape is the thing to do and it’s the right thing to do,” Morris says.
Todd Roth, aquatics supervisor for Center Region Parks and Recreation, told council his staff does not have the authority to make decisions that go against the existing code, such as allowing patrons to park in the service drive.
“Staff has no jurisdiction over allowing non-code use,” Roth says.
Roth says COG may need to consult an engineering firm to address the concerns.
Council also asked Borough Manager Tom Fountaine to draft a letter to COG about the matter, which council will review at a future meeting.
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