Newsroom

CORVALLIS - Oregon State University has developed a new parking plan to help address concerns that have been expressed about convenient access for people with disabilities to Reser Stadium, Gill Coliseum and other athletic facilities, for football games and other events.

The new approach ensures that people with disabilities, whether or not they have made donations to the Beaver Athletic Scholarship Fund, will be able to easily park next to the stadiums.

Provisions of the new plan include:

• Ralph Miller Drive (located between Gill Coliseum and Parker Plaza) will be available for disabled general public parking.

   

• 26th Street (southbound from Washington Way to Gate 18) will be available for disabled general public parking.

   

• Finley Lot (adjacent to the Alumni Center) will continue to be used as additional disabled general public parking.

   

• All general public parking is $5, including disabled parking.

   

• Disabled patrons may be dropped off at "will call," gate 17, for south stadium access, by entering the Scoreboard Lot off Western Boulevard and exiting off 26th Street.

   

• All general public may use 26th Street at Ralph Miller Drive as a drop off zone for north stadium access.

University officials say the adjustments are the result of a collaborative effort between the Department of Athletics, Affirmative Action, Facilities Services, and Students with Disabilities, who reviewed the current plan at the request of the Department of Athletics.

"As a university community we responded to concerns in an expeditious time frame and came away with an appropriate solution," said Angelo Gomez, co-director of the Affirmative Action office.

OSU always has been committed to complying with the intent and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Gomez said. To help ensure that compliance, it plans to form an advisory committee to provide a review of all athletic facilities and events regarding ADA issues.

"We believe OSU was always in compliance with access provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act," said Rob Specter, vice president for finance and administration at OSU. "We take very seriously any concerns that people may have in this area, though, and our revised policy now clearly exceeds the requirements for access to the stadium for people with disabilities."

"But more than that, we want everyone to understand that these actions were taken because it's the right thing to do," Specter said. "Everyone is welcome at our athletic events and we work hard to ensure they feel that way."