News Release

Perry’s Victory holds public meetings July 24 on draft Accessibility Management Plan

Date: July 19, 2018
Contact: Mary (Maggie) Beckford, 419-285-2184 extension 1229

PUT-IN-BAY (OH) – The public is encouraged to attend one of two public meetings scheduled for Tuesday, July 24, to gather input into the Accessibility Management Plan (AMP) for Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial.
The first public meeting will be held on South Bass Island at the park’s Visitor Center from 1 to 2 pm. The second public meeting will be held in Port Clinton at the Lake Erie Shores and Islands Visitor Center from 5 to 6 pm.
The goal of the accessibility plan at the island’s National Park included identifying existing barriers to accessibility of buildings, exhibits, programs, special events and the park’s website. National Park Service staff worked with Commonwealth Heritage Group and the National Center on Accessibility to evaluate the park’s accessibility and to design a preliminary plan to improve accessibility parkwide.
“Our ultimate goal is to make the park facilities and grounds, ranger programs and special events, and our information sources such as the visitor center exhibits and park website accessible to people of all abilities,” said Park Superintendent Barbara Fearon. “That’s not just a basic human right, it is the law.”
A six-step process was used for developing the Accessibility Management Plan that included dividing the process into three segments; a three-step process of self-evaluation of the park, an accessibility team assessment of the park, and the preparation of the accessibility management plan document. An overview of those findings is attached and will be shared at the public meetings. Input will be gathered to further the process of finalizing the Accessibility Management Plan for the park, Superintendent Fearon said. “Whether the barrier is physical or programmatic, it is our job to make every effort to remove the barrier or provide an alternative so that this national treasure is accessible to everyone,” she added.

Anyone with special needs planning to attend one of the public meetings should contact Maggie Beckford at 419-285-2184, ext. 1229 no later than 10am on Monday, July 23 to discuss their needs and available services.
About Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial. The park honors those who fought and died in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812, and celebrates the enduring peace between the United States, Great Britain, and Canada. The Memorial, a Doric column, rising 352 feet over Lake Erie is 5 miles from the longest unarmed border in the world. It has an open-air Observation Deck 317 feet tall offering spectacular views of the Lake Erie Islands and Canada. For more information about Perry’s Victory visit www.nps.gov/pevi, the park’s Facebook page, Twitter @PerrysVIPM, and Instagram @perrysvictorynps. Visitors with special needs planning to attend a program or event at Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial are requested to contact the park at 419-285-2184 to discuss their needs and available services.