It's pretty obvious - handicapped parking spots are a necessity for some of us. If we have a van with a ramp or lift, we can't park in a regular parking spot. I use a sedan with doors that swing far out - and need to get my wheelchair out - so I depend on handicapped parking for enough room to pull the chair out. If I can't find such a spot and I'm alone, I have to forego going inside.
I am very fortunate to belong to a parish where we have what I call "abundant handicapped parking"! To my joy, every time I pull in the lot and see all of the handicapped parking spots, I feel welcomed. I know I do not have to worry about not being able to get out of my car! Moreover, the spots are scattered - some are in front of our church, others in front of our parish hall - so that I can park conveniently. There is ample lighting so I feel safe at night when I go to church functions. The spots are clearly marked and large enough for vans. Our parking lot is nice and flat - there are no tricky hills to navigate - and this can be a problem if you are trying to get into a wheelchair on a parking spot which has been put on a hill.
I once saw this piece of art where people in wheelchairs were whizzing through the air - it was a depiction of one person's view of heaven. Whenever I think of that, I know that those folks would look down at our parking lot at St Charles Borromeo in Skillman NJ , see all of those handicapped spots and think "Heaven on earth!"
2 comments:
You're lucky. Our church parking lot is really bad. It's gravel and hilly. I use a cane and sometimes I feel like asking for a handicapped spot. Maybe I'll talk to someone. Nice to know I'm not alone.
Thanks.
Fred
Hi Fred!
Thanks for stopping by! It might be possible to pave a small area and put a handicapped parking area there with an entry way to the church. Check if any parishioners are contractors (this will cut the cost or perhaps get free labor). You can also contact the town engineering department for assistance in planning handicapped parking to make sure the "specs" are right before time and money are spent.
You may also be able to arrange a spot closer to the front even iif its on gravel that can be set aside for you as reserved. This has been done for me in places where there isn't handicapped parking yet and I am struggling to get inside.
Good luck!
Ruth
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