NEWS

By Stephen Mills, Barre-Montpelier Times Argus

MONTPELIER — A plan to provide and help fund wheelchair access to the grandstand at the rec field in the Capital City was approved by the City Council on Wednesday. 

The project involves cutting a 12-foot section out of the bottom row of the bleachers and paving the area to accommodate up to four wheelchair users who would have a front-row seat behind home plate for Vermont Mountaineers games and other sporting events.

“According to the engineer, that would be the best spot, right there. They don’t have to go very far to get into the handicapped area, and it makes it easy getting in and out,” said Brian Gallagher, president and general manager of the Mountaineers, at the meeting. 

Gallagher said the upgrade would help make the facility compliant under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“It’s nearly 80 years old, so there’s no handicapped access down there at all,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher said the access area — with bench seating on either side for others accompanying people in wheelchairs — would replace an area down the side of left field between home plate and first base that was behind fencing with reduced visibility for spectators. 

“This way, people can be in there, with the (grandstand) crowd … and they can be part of a family environment,” Gallagher said. 

Gallagher said the work would probably take place in April, in time for the start of baseball season in June.

Councilor Rosie Kruger suggested Gallagher apply for funding for the $8,500 project from the city’s ADA revolving loan fund, a proposal that was supported by the council. 

Gallagher said the baseball club received a donation toward the cost of the project, but welcomed Krueger’s suggestion to apply for city funds.  

“Just to be clear, I would only be proposing using those funds because it’s my understanding we’ve been trying to find ways to spend down those funds,” Krueger said. 

If city funding were approved, it would mean baseball club funds could be used instead to repair a leaking roof over the press box, and replace field lights that are 15 years old with cheaper, more efficient lighting, Gallagher said. 

There was also discussion about the baseball club seeking additional support from the ADA revolving loan fund for a much-needed upgrade of bathrooms that are not ADA compliant. 

Gallagher also provided an update about the beer garden the baseball club introduced last year, saying the facility had proven popular with no reported problematic incidents. 

stephen.mills@timesargus.com