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NCHPAD - Building Healthy Inclusive Communities

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Development of the Accessible Design Process


In spring 2005, the City of Reno re-dedicated the Whitewater Park with new features that provide improved public access to the park and meet the ADA requirements.

Following is a summary of the details and issues surrounding the development of the accessible design process for the City of Reno Truckee River Whitewater Park at Wingfield Park:

Development of the Accessible Design Process

Whitewater Park Attributes

  • An ideal location in the heart of a downtown resort area, walking distance from 24-hour hotels/casinos
  • Open year-round
  • Constant flow of clean, fresh water
  • Large size – 11 drop-pools; total of 2,600 feet in length, or 0.5 mile
  • Great variety of whitewater activities for different skill levels
  • Easy public and spectator access
  • Favorable year-round climate
  • Designed to accommodate low water flows to ensure usability during dry spells
  • Situated in mountain adventure area that also offers skiing, golf, mountain biking, and other sports
  • Easy to reach: close to Reno/Tahoe International Airport and Interstate 80

Technical Details

  • Length: 2,600 feet, including 1,400 feet in the north channel and 1,200 feet in the south channel or 0.5 mile.
  • Class 2 to 3 course (on a scale of 1 to 6; one being a lake, six being a waterfall)
  • Users: kayaks, canoes and rafts, inner tubes
  • Maneuvers: freestyle, including the following whitewater kayak maneuvers: front and side surfing, cart wheeling, throwing ends, blunt moves, spoofing and splatting, flat spinning, loops, front flips, and slalom racing.
  • Random boulders in channels.

Need for Access

  • Per the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Whitewater Park, as a Title II public facility, must allow kayakers and users full access and use regardless of disability.
  • The original design did not incorporate ADA facilities.
  • By recommendation of the City of Reno Access Advisory Committee, the City has fully implemented ramps allowing ingress to and egress from the park for the use of patrons with disabilities.

Major Issues/Barriers

  • Ramps must allow transfer from a wheelchair to a kayak.
  • Ramps must be usable at different water levels and flow rates.
  • Ramps must withstand river flooding conditions (i.e., removable handrails).
  • Ramps must be aesthetically pleasing.
  • Ramps must not adversely affect river flows.
  • Construction of the ramps requires river dewatering.

Accessible Whitewater Park – Concepts for Design

  • Ramps: Borrowed accessible route standards from ADAAG for path of travel and ramps.
  • Transfer Stations: Borrowed playground transfer station design for entrance and exit of the water per Access Board standards.
  • Flood Stage Requirements: Installed removable handrails to satisfy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requirements.
  • Affect on River Flows: Determined orientation and length of ramps to work with various seasonal flows of the river; including considerations for extremes.
  • Aesthetics: Integrated ramps into existing features, including previous boat ramp (not ADA-compliant) and rock wall to improve aesthetics.
  • Construction: Construction of the ramps had to be coordinated with river flows, other government and regulatory agencies, and City special events.



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