7/18/07 Mets Outreach Meeting Minutes

Citi Field Accessibility
Minutes from 7/18/07 Outreach Meeting at Shea Stadium

Opening Remarks:
Dominic Marinelli, United Spinal Association

Update on Construction of Citi Field:
Mike Sabatini, HOK Sport

Slide show presentation of construction photos:
• Steel in Administration Building and on all 3 levels of stadium in place.
• Lower deck seating bowl in place.
• Elevator towers in place.
• Brick and concrete façade along 126th Street in place.
• Concourse will be a soot color (midnight blue) and seats will be a deep green color.

Communication Update on Signage:
Mike Sabatini, HOK Sport and Dominic Marinelli, United Spinal Association

• Directional signage will be provided throughout stadium – signs will have a dark background (either black, blue or maroon) with white figures.
• Exterior plaza directory – although some elements will be raised, directory will be more graphic than tactile.
• Discussion about creating a tactile relief map that individuals can get familiar with prior to attending a game at the stadium. Some attendees felt that it may be a burden to make individuals make a special trip to stadium in order to familiarize themselves with relief map.
• Discussion about the possibility of using talking signs or individual listening devices as an alternative to using a relief map. Would it be difficult to use these types of signs because of how wide open the stadium is?
• Suggestion – there could be “designated areas” where signs could be placed, similar to how subway signs that are always placed on right side of 1st pole.
• Joel Ziev suggested that we reconvene Communication Task Group and discuss communication issues in greater detail (involve 212 – concession company).
• Ken Stewart asked if elevators will include both a high and low control panel – individuals with visual impairments have difficulty using control panels located at the lower accessible height. United Spinal indicated that the elevators planned have a single control panel that will be within the accessible reach ranges required. It is not possible for a second panel at this point in the project.
• There will be 2 food menus provided in stadium – one inside and one outside.
• Ken Stewart suggested that color contrast be used within toilet rooms – do not put a white urinal against a white wall.
• There will be 2 signs identifying toilet rooms – one located to right of door at an accessible height and one “blade” sign, sticking out from the wall and located high on wall so that individuals walking down concourse can see.
• Suggestion to provide raised seat numbers on seats, particularly helpful on aisle seats.

Questions:

Will signs in stadium be accessible? Yes, all signage provided both within the stadium and outside the stadium will be accessible. Designation signage will be mounted at the required accessible height.

Will concession stands be accessible? Yes, all concession stands will be at an accessible height.

Will accessible toilet stalls be identified with signage? Yes, accessible toilet stalls will be identified with signage including the International Symbol of Accessibility.

Will there be any unisex toilet rooms? Yes, there will be 14 unisex toilet rooms and all will be identified with signage as “unisex toilet rooms” not as “family rooms.”

Will all toilet stalls be accessible? No, each toilet room will have one accessible toilet stall. HOK Sports is referencing the newer codes, even though they are not yet being used in NYC, in order to provide greater accessibility, such as the addition of unisex toilet rooms.

Will the toilets be auto flush? Yes

Will signage include both upper and lower case letters, which is easier to read for individuals with visual impairments? Signs with visual characters will include both upper and lower case letters. ADAAG and ANSI standards require signs with tactile characters to be uppercase letters.

What is the Fun Zone? This name may be changed – it includes the wiffle ball field and pitching machines.

Communication Update on Assistive Listening System:
Joel Ziev, Partners for Access, LLC

• Joel wanted to clarify that we should be using the term “captioning” rather than “closed-captioning.”
• FM system does not work in meeting rooms. Induction loop will be provided to allow those having T-Coil to use their hearing aids instead of getting a receiver.
• One of the 17 ticket booths located in the Jackie Robinson Rotunda will be provided with a loop system. System will be tested – if more are needed, this can be done easily, without too much of an expense.
• All ticket booths will be provided with audio amplification.
• Comment by attendee that not all Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) have volume controls, so can be difficult to use without hearing aid. Jarrod Esposito, who set-up Assistive Listening System in meeting room, pointed out the ALDs he uses have volume controls.
• Rick Morin commented that many stadiums have a 2-channel FM system for individuals who want to use a radio. Sometimes broadcasts are delayed up to 12 seconds. He supports Infinity Corporation’s decision to stop using a delay in Gillette Park next season and hopes that the Mets will not implement a delay in their FM system.
• Citi Field will have a 2 channel FM system – one channel will be PA and the other is to be determined.
• As of now, captioning will be provided on two signs, one provided on right field side and other provided at left field side.

Questions:

How will ticket booth with loop system be identified? Ticket booth provided with loop system will be identified with signage. Discussion about which of the 17 booths is the best choice for the loop system – center booth or booth to far right?

How many ticket booths are accessible? All ticket booths are at an accessible height.

Can an attendee see the captioning boards if they are sitting in the upper deck? Captioning boards can be seen from all seats within stadium.

Transportation Update:
John Ingram, Jack Gordon Architects

• Identified entrances located on North, South and on 126th Street.
• #7 train is not accessible – Mets have met with MTA but nothing is resolved.
• Cross rail is in way of construction.
• Willets Point – RFP from City for development.
• MTA will be increasing the width of stairway from satellite station.
• Attendees suggested putting pressure on elected officials and borough president to ensure that MTA makes #7 train accessible by opening day of new stadium.
• Although the Mets don’t have control over MTA and the accessibility of #7 train, there could be bad press on opening day for Mets if no accessible public transportation is provided to Citi Field.
• MTA spokesperson, Joseph Raskin, said that he would notify MTA about our discussion on #7 train.
• Suggestion to invite MTA to our next Outreach Meeting at Shea Stadium.
• Victor Calise from NYC Parks and Janet Gangloff from the Tennis Center also want the #7 train to be accessible since their constituents use same subway line – suggestion that all interested parties meet to discuss meeting with MTA.
• Discussion on possible pick-up and drop-off locations for Access-a-Ride at Citi Field.
• Ed Roether from HOK Sports pointed out that police may have to be involved in the selection of pick-up and drop-off locations due to security issues.
• Suggestion to provide pick-up and drop-off locations with coverage from inclement weather.
• Suggestion to make sure that pick-up locations can be seen from stadium so that individuals can keep a look out and see when Access-a-Ride vans arrive.
• 126th Street has 30,000-40,000 square feet of retail space that individuals may visit on non-game days so may want an Access-a-Ride drop-off and pick-up location here.
• Suggestion that we also contact MTA Bus, City Bus and LIRR about accessible transportation (LIRR stop at Shea Stadium is not accessible).

Questions:

How many accessible parking spaces will be provided? 5,639 parking spaces are provided in total, 284 are accessible and 68 are van accessible.

Will the Mets be creating a permanently lined wheelchair softball field in the parking lot? Yes

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