UPDATE: Dearborn to Add Disability Access to Neighborhood Pools in 2013

Starting the summer of 2013, Dearborn’s neighborhood pools will have an added feature: battery-powered pool lifts that make them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“These are required in order to open the pools next summer,” Mayor Jack O’Reilly explained at a recent meeting with City Council.

The purchase and installation of the lifts for the city’s six currently operating neighborhood pools—Summer-Stephens, Lapeer, Crowley, Ford Woods, Dunworth and Ten Eyck—and the pool at Camp Dearborn was approved Tuesday by council.

The cost for the project is $70,914. A breakdown of the costs was provided by the city:

• $65,065 for the battery-operated lifts, including $2,850 each if a long-reach attachment is needed for any of the pool lifts, which won't be determined until the architect exams the layout of each pool closely.
• $5,500 for labor and materials for ADA accessible stairs at Dunworth
• $349 for one extra battery

The ADA requirements were approved in 2010 by the U.S. Department of Justice.

“People with disabilities were, for too long, excluded from participating in many recreational activities, including swimming,” the act reads. “For the first time, the 2010 Standards set minimum requirements for making swimming pools, wading pools, and spas (pools) accessible.”

Read the full requirements here.

The requirements were placed on any newly built pools, as well as existing pools being altered or upgraded. The ADA also requires that any government-run pools comply with the standards, allowing safe and easy entrance and exit for disabled pool users.

Council also approved on Tuesday $263,100 in renovations to Levagood Park’s Dunworth pool complex, which includes repairs, ADA compliance and the addition of “spray and play” features at the park's "baby pool."

The costs include:

• $144,600 for the city and cover design, permits, submittals, gutter system update, excavation, concrete, piping updates, labor charges, testing and warranty
• $12,500 for drain box updates to comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Safety Act
• $14,000 for stairs and lift for compliance with ADA standards for the "baby pool"
• $45,000 for Aguabond (PVC) Membrane for the pool hull
• $47,000 for spray and play features, to be covered by funds from the Wayne County Parks Millage

Correction: This article originally stated that the $70,914 would cover the cost of six lifts.