NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR COUNTY
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Please submit forms and questions to:
Heather Voorman, Policy Director
2025 M Street, N.W., Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 367-2405 ▪ Fax: (202) 367-2197
Success Story Submission
Agency: Community Development Commission of the County of Los Angeles (CDC)
Project/Program Name: ADA Sidewalk and Public Facility Program
Point of Contact:
Linda Jenkins, Manager
700 W. Main Street, Alhambra, CA 91801
(616) 586-1765
BRIEF SUMMARY: Through the CDC, the County of Los Angeles Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Sidewalk and Public Facility Program (Program), implemented by 21 cities that participate in the Los Angeles Urban County, addresses the enormous need throughout the County to improve sidewalks, parks, and other public facilities so they are ADA accessible.
The Program is a high need in Los Angeles County given that many sidewalks and public facilities in cities and unincorporated areas were not designed and built to include accessibility features. The demand to improve these facilities is also extremely high. According to the 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 967,572 residents (about 10% of the population in the County) have a disability and approximately half of them have a physical disability that may limit their mobility.
That survey also reports that there were 433,073 disabled elderly residing in Los Angeles County. Due to the aging of the baby boomer generation, the number of elderly residents will increase by 90% by 2023. Given that high growth rate, the number of disabled elderly in Los Angeles County may reach almost 800,000 persons and the overall disabled population will reach 1.4 million in just six (6) years. This dramatic increase requires a committed investment of public funds to ensure that sidewalks, parks, libraries, community service and other civic centers are accessible to these citizens.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are a key financing source utilized by many participating cities throughout Los Angeles County as a solution to address this need. CDBG-funded ADA sidewalk and public facility improvements have allowed persons with disabilities to move around their neighborhoods safely and more efficiently and to have accessible parking, public buildings, restrooms, and other facilities in their communities.
RESULTS: The Program has been very successful in making infrastructure and public facilities accessible to meet this growing need. During the past three years, over $4.7 million was expended to complete 32 sidewalk improvement projects and 9 public facility improvement projects that improved accessibility to 24 parks and other municipal facilities for nearly 51,000 disabled persons.
PARTNERS: The Program achieved these accomplishments through projects implemented by the following Los Angeles Urban County participating cities: Artesia, Azusa, Bell, Cerritos, Culver City, Diamond Bar, Duarte, El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, La Habra Heights, La Verne, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills Estates, San Marino, Sierra Madre, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Pasadena, Temple City, Torrance, and West Hollywood.
COSTS AND SOURCES OF FINANCING: The primary source of funding is the Federal CDBG program leveraged with $187,647 allocated from other general funds.
PICTURES: Please see next page for photos.
City of Torrance
ADA Park Improvements at Torrance Park
Before and After
City of El Segundo ADA Ramp Installation
Before and After
City of Diamond Bar Bark Park @ Pantera Park
ADA Walkway and Path Improvements