Re. the wheelchairs - this is actually part of a much larger capital
project (year 4 of 5) to make our living history village as accessible as
possible to visitors with disabilities.  As part of this, we have already
purchased two all-terrain wheelchairs which we loan to visitors.  These
chairs will go over anything!


At 08:49 AM 10/10/1997 -0700, you wrote:
>Isn't there some kind of rough gravelly-like coating that could be
>applied to the wood that would make it less slippery? Do wheelchairs
>also use the same paths? Any problems maneuvering over rough sawn lumber
>in a wheelchair?
>
>
>Thomas A. Reitz wrote:
>>
>> For all you living history sites, nature centres, arboreta and similar
>> outdoor facilities ... we're in the process of replacing wood boardwalks
>> that snake through our living history village.  These are unpainted,
>> untreated wood surfaces and our plan is to use rough sawn lumber.
>>
>> One of the concerns that has been raised by staff and visitors is that when
>> the wood surface gets worn down and then wet from rain or snow, they are
>> very slippery.  In the winter, we shovel and throw down a de-icer.  But
>> when the wood is wet from rain, there doesn't seem to be a lot we can do.
>>
>> We don't want to afix rubberized treads because not only will they look
>> dreadful, they have a habit of being pulled up and then cause a tripping
>> hazard.  And we don't want to throw down sand because it will get tracked
>> into the historic buildings.
>>
>> Has anyone confronted this and how have you dealt with it?  Would
>> appreciate suggestions.
>>
>> Thomas A. Reitz
>> Manager/Curator
>> Doon Heritage Crossroads
>> R.R. #2
>> Kitchener, Ontario  N2G 3W5
>> Canada
>>
>> Telephone:      519-748-1439  ext 227
>> Fax:            519-748-0009
>> Email:          [log in to unmask]
>> http:           www.region.waterloo.on.ca/doon
>
>


Thomas A. Reitz
Manager/Curator
Doon Heritage Crossroads
R.R. #2
Kitchener, Ontario  N2G 3W5
Canada

Telephone:      519-748-1439  ext 227
Fax:            519-748-0009
Email:          [log in to unmask]
http:           www.region.waterloo.on.ca/doon