Handicapped seniors struggle with ramps at Homestead Bayfront Park

Seniors seek ground-level restroom facilities

HOMESTEAD, Fla.Homestead Bayfront Park is a scenic sanctuary in Miami-Dade County.

Located at the tip of the Florida Keys next to Biscayne National Park, the park boasts beaches, boat ramps and playgrounds.

There's just one problem for a group of seniors who Called Christina for help -- the handicap access ramps leading up to the second floor of the park's restroom building are so long and windy, it is difficult for them to navigate.

"I got to stop for a minute," panted Patricial Pintl as she struggled to push her walker up four ramps to the second floor restrooms.

One senior described the ramps as an "obstacle course," and another said some of her friends don't visit the park because getting to the restroom is nearly impossible.

Other seniors said they don't have the strength to push their friends in wheelchairs up the steep ramps.

"You think about, 'Do I really want to go up or can I wait?,'" Margaret Ramirez said. "I would like a bathroom downstairs, on the ground floor -- that's what I am asking for. Is that too much to ask for?"

The Call Christina team took their concerns to Victoria Galan, spokeswoman for the county's Department of Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces.

THE RAMPS:

Galan said the ramps are ADA-compliant, "albeit perhaps a little bit long and trying. It meets the standards of the ADA. We wouldn't be able to open our doors if it wasn't."

Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department prides itself on being accessible.

Yet there is a tragic irony here that handicapped seniors find the handicap ramps difficult.

Since the time the Call Christina team shared the seniors' concerns with county officials, Galan said they instituted an option of providing seniors with a motorized scooter.

"We provided a motorized scooter for them to use," Galan said. "All they have to do is call our park office (and) we will bring the scooter to their car and we will help them up the ramp."

Galan also explained that, "because of storm surge concerns we had to elevate the building to that second floor. Code forbids us to build anything on the first floor so everything has to be on the second floor."

ELEVATORS:

Ramirez is one of the seniors who said it would be great to see an elevator installed.

Galan said that is not possible. There are documented maintenance issues with stainless steel marine-use elevators situated in a waterfront environment.

"So you have ADA requirements which we meet, then there is the scooter which is a good faith effort on our part to make things easier," Galan said. "The issue with lifts is that they require maintenance and you are out in the elements, not just with our rain, but you have the seawater. It is operated by power. If the power goes out, there is no use for the elevator. We don't have the resources in order to maintain a lift."

During the interview, investigative reporter Christina Vazquez brought up another point seniors articulated. They wondered why the $7 weekend parking fee couldn't be ear-marked to help offset the cost of installing an elevator.

"It's not just the purchase of the particular lift, it's maintaining the lift," Galan said. "And we have had experiences at our parks, like Crandon, where if the power is down, it doesn't work. If it is broken and it needs to get fixed, it is having that reserve money to be able to support it. It is not just put it up and let it go."

OK, HOW ABOUT A PORT-A-POTTY?

The seniors who spoke with the Call Christina team said they would even settle for a port-a-potty on the ground floor or anything that would prevent them from having to travel up the ramps when time is of the essence.

We brought that to the Galan who said she would look into it.

"That is a wonderful idea that we will investigate for sure," she said.

She did, and told us a day later via email: "Regarding portable bathrooms: if the organization is hosting a one-day special event, they can rent a portable restroom from one of our vendors. Because of code restrictions, we would not be able to leave a unit on the ground level permanently. Hopefully, patrons will take advantage of the courtesy electric scooter and not let the ramp deter them from enjoying the park."

Click here to view a list of vendors park visitors can contact to rent a portable bathroom.

To secure a motorized scooter contact:

Homestead Bayfront Park

9698 N. Canal Drive, Homestead

Office Hours:
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Phone Number:
305-230-3033