A portion of the David Lam Asian Garden in UBC’s Botanical Garden is now accessible
to wheelchair users thanks to recent trail improvements made possible by funding
from the Coca-Cola Disability Access Fund, the Dorothy Lam Memorial Fund and
the volunteer group, Friends of the Garden.
Some steep slopes on the first loop of the trail system have been removed
and the bark mulch surface has been replaced with a hard surface which retains
the natural beauty of the garden, says garden director Bruce Macdonald.
“The primary goal is wheelchair accessibility,” says Macdonald. “But there
are also new trails which provide access to areas which were previously inaccessible
by any means.”
The proposed next phase would extend the paved trail from the east end of
the tunnel beneath Southeast Marine Drive to the garden pavilion and the entrance
to the Food and Physic gardens. Consideration will also be given to improving
accessibility for persons with visual, auditory and other disabilities. A third
phase will see the remaining major areas of the garden made wheelchair accessible.
Coca-Cola Disability Access Fund money has also been committed to renovating
the Frederic Wood Theatre to provide access to seating and washroom facilities
for patrons in wheelchairs.
Construction is slated to start soon on major exterior ramps in two other
locations on campus. One is to be built at the Student Union Building with additional
funding from the Alma Mater Society.
Campus Planning and Development has also completed a review of accessibility
to the Museum of Anthropology and a feasibility study of a communication accessible
classroom for hearing impaired students.
The improvements are all part of Strategy 2010, a campus-wide plan to create
full access for people with disabilities, spearheaded by the Rick Hansen Institute
and the Disability Resource Centre.
