Northern Hills Homeowner's Association

San Antonio Riverwalk Accessibility

What the Riverwalk Needs

This was my Tenth Toastmaster Speech, and is the one where I obtained the designation of Competent Toastmaster.

I plan to give it to a city council meeting soon.

Take a Little Walk With Me.

Let’s go for a little walk today. We’re playing tourists in the place where most tourists who travel to Texas go. Yes, it’s the San Antonio Riverwalk. Romantic, Charming, Lively. 300 year old Cypress trees tower above a picturesque row of sidewalk restaurants ,bistros and shops. Local and National restaurants compete for the tourist dollar. There is Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, Texas Caf?©, Casa Rio. Dick’s Last Resort. Polly Esther’s. It’s a happening place.

We continue to walk along we can see 150 year old architecture blending with the modern day chrome and steel of the newer hotels. There are sidewalk tables covered with umbrellas, and some patio style eating areas. People seem to be having a great time. The streetside temperature is a sweltering 96 degrees, but down here, under the arbors of the Cypress trees, we enjoy a walk in the shadows. This place is cool. Then, over there, in the flower bed, I spot a small sign among the flowers.

“No Hispanics allowed on street level 300 yards beyond this point”. No, that’s not what it says. It says “Irish Visitors will not be allowed to street level 300 yards beyond this point. Now wait a minute, let’s read that again. “Methodist Church Members Not Allowed Beyond this Point” .

Can you imagine that the City of San Antonio would be so discriminatory as to put a sign up that will not allow someone to pass back to street level because of their national origin or their religion? They have laws against this don’t they? Doesn’t the Americans with Disabilities Act say that access should be given to everyone no matter what there Race, Religion, National Origin or Physical Ability?

The fact is this. The sign was this one (picture of actual sign). It says “No Accessible Route to Street Level beyond this point.” What is this sign saying to me? It says “Wheelchair Users Are Not Allowed beyond this point”. Maybe I am over-reacting, or I am interpreting more than I should, but I feel the sign is telling me that my business is not wanted.

Is it because the expense of turning the steps into wheelchair ramps would be so costly that the City will not take the initiative to make our Riverwalk accessible to wheelchairs? That is the excuse they use. The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1989, and San Antonio has dragged it’s feet on making the number one tourist attraction in the State accessible.

Today’s Riverwalk is more accessible today than it was, just a few years ago, but my friends, San Antonio is more than ten years behind on the work it should have already done. I asked the city for a breakdown of what it has spent so far to make the Riverwalk as accessible as it is. I will give you a list of the improvements that they sent to me. The total of all accessible improvements starting in 1978 is only 3 million dollars. Their ledger includes the cost of the Trolly station, which they put at 300,000. A sidewalk going behind the Arneson theater was over 100,000.

But this is really not at the City’s expense. The improvements made to the city BY THE CITY are only the two I just mentioned. All of the other projects were financed by property owners who made improvements to business on the Riverwalk. The city is waiting for private businesses to make the improvements, and taking credit for it when they do. It’s a shame, because the City makes between 17 and 20 million dollars per year in revenue from the Riverwalk hotels.

If you have ever traveled to Las Vegas, then you may have noticed that in that city, Accessabiltiy is not an issue, because they believe in making all attractions in the city available to everyone.

No groups are excluded. They don’t discriminate against Jews, or Blacks, or Indians. And they do not discriminate against Wheelchair users. All streets have curb cuts, and there are no areas that tell you that wheelchair users will not be allowed.

I have a simple plan, and I need the help of everyone in this room.
Yanaguana Cruises has set up a series of River Taxi stops all along the Riverwalk. These have finally been made accessible. A small amount of decking material would be all it would take to make each of the eleven stops one that could allow someone who uses a chair to easily and safely get on and off one of the riverwalk barges. I also think that a Ferry system that goes between the south bank, the branch that leads to the RiverCenter Mall, and the branch that goes past La Villita would be an inexpensive solution to crossing the river. Everyone else can walk up stairs, cross the street, and go back down the stairs on the other side. Wheelchair users have to go across several busy streets to find the next access ramp. The Ferry system, combined with the accessible River Taxis would make the entire Riverwalk accessible, and at a very small cost in comparison to adding new ramps wherever you see stairs. This would also make the Riverwalk historical society happier, as the original “ambiance” of the riverwalk could be preserved.

Please, write a letter to the Mayor of San Antonio, the City Council members, and to Yanaguana Cruises. At least I urge you to write an email to Judy Babbit, and ask that the city investigate ways to make the riverwalk available to 100% of the tourists who visit there.

I’m not asking you to do this for me, I am asking you to do this for the future of our City. I get emails from tourists who tell me how frustrating the Riverwalk was. Most of them have left this city with a bad taste in their mouth. This shouldn’t be allowed to happen.

And it’s not just wheelchair users. Take a look at the tourists using strollers. Do they look tired and frustrated? You better believe they are.
And remember, "The disabled" is the only minority anyone can join.

Let’s get the Riverwalk 100 percent Accessible, and offer an easy way to cross the river and let’s encourage our city to make it happen this year.


Then, I would be so happy to take a little walk with you.

Some Facts about the Riverwalk

Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination in public accommodations,
including hotels and entertainment facilities. Newly constructed facilities
or facilities altered after the law went into effect, must be built or altered according to specific guidelines, called ADA Standards for
Accessible Design. Pre-existing facilities must meet those standards as
well.

Title II of the ADA, which was passed by Congress in 1990, prohibits discrimination in all state and local government activities. Under the ADA,
state and local governments had until January 26, 1993, to evaluate their
services, policies, and practices that discriminate against persons with
disabilities, and to have proceeded to make any necessary modifications.
Additionally, any physical changes necessary to make services and programs
accessible must have been completed by January 26, 1995 unless doing so would impose an undue financial or administrative burden.

Email us
jpenry@satx.rr.com

Other Links to the Riverwalk Accessibility Issue

The Website page I wrote in 1998
The Sign in the Garden