May 09, 2008 12:26 am
—
Enid, we have a problem!
It has been brought to my attention by Enid’s city manager that Convention Hall (Mark Price Arena) will be closed. The building will be used as a storage building or torn down.
The first reason Mr. Benson stated was the $200,000 cost of maintaining our facility. The second reason is a lawsuit filed by an Enid resident under the American Disability Act.
Convention Hall has to meet standards set by the ADA such as access to the upper tiers and handicap accessible restrooms. At present, the handicapped person has access only on the main floor. Convention Hall does not have an elevator to allow the handicapped person access, which means an elevator must be installed. Why not build an elevator on the outside of the building similar to the solution of the fire escape for the courthouse jail? Removal of enough rows of seats on both tiers with appropriate ramps and side rails built would give the handicapped individual access to viewing any event on the floor. The main floor bathrooms can be redone and made ADA acceptable. The second floor bathroom can be turned into a restroom for the handicapped.
Convention Hall, at no small cost, has recently been air-conditioned, a new floor installed, the bathrooms updated, new windows and more. To tear down Convention Hall would leave Enid without a facility to handle the activities of the city and school, and using it for storage would soon turn it into a downtown eyesore. With the building of the new ballpark next to Convention Hall, this area of downtown has become an Enid attraction.
Is this cost for ADA renovation or the abandonment of Convention Hall a problem of the Enid City Council or the Enid Board of Education? It is a problem for the citizens of Enid because the citizens decide who is elected to both. The involvement of the citizens will bring the proper solution. We cannot expect either the council or the board to shoulder all the responsibility.
Jack Norman
Enid
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