Being outside has always been one of my favorite activities. I love going to the park with my friends. For this installment of Kylie’s Accessibility Adventures, I compared two local parks in the Roswell area—Leita Thompson Memorial Park and Roswell Area Park. Let’s see how accessible they are.
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Kylie Moore. I am from Roswell, Georgia, living with Cerebral Palsy. I’ve dedicated my career to advocating for the disability community, creating self-advocacy programs, and serving on boards.
Background Information
When evaluating the two parks, I had to remember that they were designed for different purposes. Prior to her death, Leita Thompson dedicated 107 acres of land to the City of Roswell’s Recreation and Parks Department, which is now the memorial park named after her. Thompson was a Roswell philanthropist who founded the Leitalift Foundation, serving over 156 working women by donating grants to help them achieve their goals. The Leita Thompson Park trails are not man-made and have existed for centuries. The city did not design the park. In contrast, Roswell Area Park was built in the 1970s with the citizens of Roswell in mind. This accounts for the differences in accessibility.
Parking
The parking lot at Leita Thompson Memorial Park is made of cinder. My wheelchair could move on it, but it was not as easy as on concrete or pavement. There were no designated accessible parking spaces in the lot.
Roswell Area Park has several parking lots, each with at least two accessible parking spaces. All of the accessible spots have large spaces for a ramp to be led down. There is pavement throughout the park, making it easier for me to move around.
Score
- Leita Thompson Par—1 star
- Roswell Area Park—5 starts
Sidewalks and ramps
When I went to Leita Thompson Park, there were no sidewalks or ramps leading to the trails. The parking lot was connected to the trails by a grass path. In contrast, Roswell Park has several accessible sidewalks and ramps. All of the ramps and sidewalks are wide and easy for people in wheelchairs to use.
Score
- Leita Thompson Park gets 2 stars
- Roswell Park—5 starts
Accessibility of the Trails
When I visit a park, I like to explore the different areas by going on all the walking trails. However, the trails at Leita Thompson Park were not very accessible. All the trails were made of cinder, with many rocks and tree branches that I had to maneuver around. There were also some steep hills that I was unable to go down, and as a result, I couldn’t complete any of the trails.
I must note that I don’t plan to become a professional wheelchair mountain climber at any point in my life. I am also aware of the limitations of what I can and can’t do in my wheelchair. I do not expect the City of Roswell to make changes to the land that was donated to them, especially since it was not originally designed as a park.
In comparison, the trails at Roswell Park were much more accessible. They were made of a mixture of pavement and gravel, providing a smoother surface. None of the hills at Roswell Park were too steep, allowing me to enjoy all areas of the park.
Score
- Leita Thompson Park receives 1 star
- Roswell Park gets 5 starts
Overall Experience
I enjoyed my time at both parks, but they were completely different experiences. Roswell Park is a place I visit frequently because of its accessibility. Not only do I enjoy the walking trails, but my dad and I also enjoy fishing in the small pond.
Leita Thompson Park was much more difficult for me to navigate in my wheelchair. It is a beautiful park, but I felt like I could not fully enjoy it. However, knowing that it is a historical property that was not originally designed as a park made up for the lack of accessibility.
I look forward to evaluating more parks over the spring and summer. Let me know which one is your favorite!
Overall Score
- Leita Thompson Park receives 2 starts for accessibility
- Roswell Park gets 5
