Old Market Square: A Great Place to Visit, but Not For Everyone

Members of Winnipeg's disability community are giving a popular Exchange District attraction a failing grade on accessibility, and they want the city to do something about it.

Representatives from Manitoba League of Persons With Disabilities and Disabled Women's Network Manitoba say recent renovations made to Old Market Square do not meet accessibility standards for people with mobility or visual impairments.

Diane Driedger, MLPD Provincial Coordinator, said her organization met with city planners last year when the first phase of renovations was complete, and suggested steps the planners could take to make the space more accessible. But when they met again last summer, not a lot had been done.

"They put two new ramps in," said Driedger. "One of them is very steep and needs a railing."

Driedger compared the park's new green space that encircles the stage to a sunken living room. She said the three sets of stairs that provide access to the space do not have railings or visual indicators to show where each stair begins, creating a dangerous situation for people with balance difficulties or limited vision.

But the biggest problem, say the disability advocates, is with the ramp that provides wheelchair access to the green space in the southwest corner. The side walls also function as a seating area, which presents additional challenges.

"So what happens is, there isn't enough room to pass there--everybody's sitting there--and as a wheelchair user comes, they have to run over everybody's feet. They have to ask people to move," said Driedger.

She pointed out that those sitting on the walls could be asked to move, but some people with disabilities do not feel comfortable making that request. Either way, the MLPD and DAWN representatives feel the path should be made one brick wider, so everyone can have equal access.

"Public spaces should be public spaces," said Mindy Tucker, a member of MLPD's provincial council, who met with city planners.

Coun. Ross Eadie, chair of the city's Access Advisory Committee, agrees the recommended changes should be made. Driedger and company were told those in charge of the renos had run out of money, but Eadie said his committee is recommending that more funds be set aside, even though the city has spent $2.6 million on the project so far.

"I'm not quite sure what that cost will be. All I know is handrails are quite cheap. The biggest cost is going to be fixing the path, which is the biggest problem."

Eadie said he'll make the recommendation to the Mayer's Executive Policy Committee within the next couple of weeks.