Wild Mile Accessibility Information
We are committed to making the Wild Mile accessible and approachable to as many people as possible! If you have a question about accessibility that isn’t answered in the photos and descriptions below, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at team@urbanriv.org!
Basic Information:
The Wild Mile is ADA-accessible - the floating boardwalk is connected to the street-level entryway by an 80-foot metal gangway. Because the level of the water changes frequently, the slope of the ramp is not constant. When the river is approximately at its lowest (such as before big storm when the level is preemptively lowered), the slope is 11.5%. When the river level is higher, which it usually is, the ramp will be less steep.
The metal gangway is roughly textured to ensure grip in wet or snowy conditions, and is equipped with metal handlebars along its entire length. However, the Wild Mile’s wooden boardwalk is not equipped with handlebars, and can become slippery in icy or very wet conditions.
At the end of the gangway, there is a small floating platform that predates the installation of the Wild Mile. It is connected to the remainder of the floating boardwalk by a rounded wooden bridge that bridges the ~8-inch gap. The raised nature of this portion can be a barrier for some wheelchair-users!
The boardwalk itself is floating, and experiences small movements from the water. Typically, when the water is calm, the movements are not noticeable. However, when the water is choppy, or when a passing boat kicks up wake, the boardwalk can move quite a bit. Additionally, when large groups of people walk together on the boardwalk, it tends to sway side-to-side.
Events:
Seating: At our events, we are able to provide raised seating for around ten people. While we typically treat seating as first-come first-served, we always prioritize those with mobility-related needs - if you’d like to ensure that we have a seat available for you, please either email us at team@urbanriv.org in advance, or find a facilitator at the event and ask! We’ll make sure you have a place to sit, and are able to comfortably enjoy the program.
Auditory Interpretation: Unfortunately, we are not currently able to provide ASL interpreters at our events.
Masking and COVID safety: If you are experiencing symptoms of an infectious disease, please refrain from attending our events. While we do not typically require masks at our events, we welcome their use if you feel most comfortable wearing one! We also have a stock of surgical masks that we are happy to provide you upon request. As some of our event partners have different mask requirements, please make sure to check event descriptions carefully before attending partner events on the Wild Mile.
