ROCK SPRINGS – After several discussions with the Rock Springs City Council about Kiwanis Park and making it more handicap friendly, the Parks and Recreation Board was updated on the progress.

For several city council meeting, Mary Johnson and her husband have addressed the council with concerns from the handicap population about Kiwanis Field. Park and Recreation officials have also met with the Johnsons at the park and most recently with Rock Springs City Engineer Paul Kauchich about issues at the park.

Park and Recreation Director Dave Lansang recently gave the Park and Recreation Board an update on the meetings.

Lansang informed the board, park officials  met with Kauchich to look at the concerns raised about handicap parking at the park. After meeting with Kauchich, a plan was put in place to address the issues.

The first thing is there will be six dedicated handicap parking spaces at the upper level parking. Lansang said one of these spots will be van accessible.

Another concern the Johnsons raised was how difficult it was to push a wheelchair through the upper entrance which is not paved. Lansang said Kauchich is planning to lay concrete to the entrance as well.

The upgrades will not stop with the parking. Lansang said they also looked at making a sidewalk that would go from the parking area to field one. The sidewalk would include the bathrooms and then move on to field two.

Lansang explained Kauchich will use funds received from the Americans With Disabilities Act which is designed to make handicap improvements.

During the council discussions, the Johnsons also spoke about the lower parking and the possibility of putting a ramp which would go from the lower level to the upper level. At this time, Lansang said they are going to focus on the upper level and later on will revisit the the lower lot.

Work on these changes will start next spring.