Athens mayor reports on ADA accessibility projects, future plans
Photo via The New Political Staff
In Athens City Council’s meeting on Monday, Mayor Steve Patterson provided an update on Athens’ ongoing efforts to enhance accessibility through projects compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). According to Patterson, the city of Athens has invested more than $15 million in ADA-compliant projects since 2016 with an additional $6.65 million planned through 2027.
"We're not sitting on our hands when it comes to ADA improvements in the city," Patterson said.
The improvements have included updates to parks, housing and public facilities. At Highland Park, a $100,000 project funded in part by a Snapple-Kaboom grant resulted in the installation of ADA-compliant playground equipment. The project involved substantial community participation, with more than 100 volunteers contributing to the effort.
Renovations have also targeted public housing and city-owned buildings. Patterson said that a property on Richland Avenue underwent extensive updates to make it accessible, with modifications to the kitchen, bathroom and entrances. Two additional homes on North Blackburn received similar upgrades before being transferred to the Metropolitan Housing Authority. Patterson also mentioned that Athens City Hall now features a lift, installed in 2016, that allows individuals with mobility challenges to access the mayor’s office.
Looking to the next few years, the city has outlined several accessibility projects scheduled through 2027. These include a citywide curb ramp and sidewalk improvement program, a multi-use path on Columbus Road, and the addition of a sidewalk and crash barrier to the Stimson Avenue Bridge. Plans also include bathroom renovations at West State Park and incorporating ADA features into the city’s uptown infrastructure projects.
During the meeting, Patterson noted that these efforts align with broader city goals to ensure accessibility for all residents and visitors. He also shared his role in advocating for accessibility at the national level. As First Vice President of the National League of Cities (NLC), he recently participated in a conference to discuss Athens’ use of a Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) grant and explored strategies for addressing housing and accessibility challenges.
Athens will continue to expand its accessibility-focused projects. Residents can follow updates on these initiatives by attending city council meetings or visiting the city’s website.
In other business:
The Council passed ordinances to increase sewer rates by 3% amongst other ordinances that aim for city sewer improvements.
An ordinance was approved authorizing the service safety director to monetize the city's solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) to fund carbon footprint reduction projects.