The City of Salisbury’s stride to be ADA-accessible

Salisbury, Md. — The City of Salisbury is still working on sidewalk construction at the intersection of Milford Street and South Division Street as part of efforts to make sidewalks more ADA-accessible. Officials say this is just the first step.

Salisbury City Councilmember Michele Gregory, who represents District 4, said this is the first of many steps to follow. “There are neighborhoods, including my own, that don’t have curb cuts at every corner. It has been a problem for a very long time, and it’s not going to get fixed overnight. But we’re making progress,” she added. “We’re also working on a project right now to make the park more accessible, because it’s very difficult to navigate with a wheelchair.”

Maryland Access Point counselor and assistive technology case manager Sandra Gay emphasized the importance of ADA compliance to the community. “When you look at the number of people with disabilities or seniors who have difficulty walking, even if they’re not in a wheelchair, having ADA-compliant accessibility makes a huge difference in allowing people to get out and enjoy the community,” she said.

Being ADA-compliant benefits not only those with disabilities but also parents with children in strollers, officials said, noting it improves accessibility for everyone.

“Those kinds of improvements are incredibly important. Accessibility is something that, unfortunately, is sorely lacking in many areas of the city. We need to tackle it head-on,” Gregory said.

Gregory added that the projects will take time to come to fruition.