More than 30 years after the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), institutional and commercial facilities continue to wrestle with accessibility for all. From improper ramp heights and seating to inaccessible parking and restrooms, the challenges remain. In the case of a facility that was built more than a century ago and recently renovated, ongoing accessibility concerns seem to have been resolved.
As part of the multi-year renovation and restoration of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs had to comply with a number of federal requirements, including the ADA, that didn’t exist when the ballpark was originally constructed over 100 years ago. That can make for a challenging process, but the entire renovation was a challenging process, and ensuring a good ballpark experience for fans with disabilities is an absolute must.
Back in 2017, David Cerda alleged that the renovations relocated accessible seating to some of the worst areas with the worst views in the ballpark in violation of the ADA. Years later, after a lengthy legal process and a trial earlier this year, the federal court issued a decision in favor of the Cubs, according to Bleacher Nation.
As part of the renovation, the Chicago Cubs designated 210 seats for accessibility purposes -- one more than the required 209 -- and the court did not agree that the seating areas violated the ADA.
Dan Hounsell is senior editor of the facilities market. He has more than 30 years of experience writing about facilities maintenance, engineering and management.
