A.D.A.: Ten .....  Sunset Trail: Zero

BEGINNING OF IMAGE DESCRIPTION. THIS IMAGE IS A SCAN OF A FORT FUNSTON LISTING IN THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION'S COASTAL ACCESS GUIDE BOOK. IN THE SENTENCE ON WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE FACILITIES, THE WORDS, "SUNSET TRAIL" HAVE BEEN SPRAY-PAINTED OVER BY FORT FUNSTON FORUM TO ILLUSTRATE THE LOSS OF THIS TRAIL FOR PEOPLE WITH LIMITED MOBILITY. END OF IMAGE DESCRIPTION.

(spraypaint added, from California Coastal Access Guide, State of California, California Coastal Commission, Univ. of Calif. Press1997, p. 115)


BEGINNING OF IMAGE DESCRIPTION: THIS IMAGE IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE BEGINNING OF THE SUNSET TRAIL DURING THE PERIOD IT WAS CLOSED EARLIER THIS YEAR. IN THE FOREGROUND THE PAVEMENT ENDS AND THE TRAIL CONTINUES IN THE SAND WHERE THE PAVEMENT HAS BEEN REMOVED. THERE IS A SIGN THAT SAYS, QUOTE, AREA CLOSED FOR YOUR SAFETY, END QUOTE. THERE ARE ALSO TWO BRIGHT RED TRAFFIC CONES IN THE PATH. THERE IS A WHITE SAWHORSE BLOCKING THE TRAIL. IT HAS VERY LARGE STENCILLED BLACK LETTERS THAT SAY, QUOTE, DO NOT ENTER, END QUOTE. THE TRAIL CONTINUES INTO THE SAND, WITH ICE PLANT ON EITHER SIDE. IN THE FAR DISTANCE IS THE OCEAN, THE ENTRANCE TO SAN FRANCISCO BAY, AND THE MARIN HEADLANDS. END OF IMAGE DESCRIPTION.
Some barriers, and some disabilities, are obvious. Here, the Sunset Trail was closed to all for several months.

BEGINNING OF IMAGE DESCRIPTION: THIS IMAGE IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE BEGINNING OF THE SUNSET TRAIL NOWADAYS. IN THE FOREGROUND THE PAVEMENT ENDS AND THE TRAIL CONTINUES ON OVER UNEVEN SAND, WITH ICE PLANT ON EITHER SIDE. IN THE FAR DISTANCE IS THE OCEAN, THE ENTRANCE TO SAN FRANCISCO BAY, AND THE MARIN HEADLANDS. END OF IMAGE DESCRIPTION.
Other barriers, and disabilities, are less apparent. Today, the Sunset Trail is still closed to many people.


Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) Tenth Anniversary...
Awfully Quiet on the Sunset Trail

As the nation celebrates the tenth anniversary this week of enactment by Congress of the landmark civil rights legislation known as the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.), Fort Funston's Sunset Trail remains inaccessible to those with limited mobility.

The Sunset Trail was closed late last year with no notice, no explanation, no proposal, and no plan for receiving comments on the closure of one of Fort Funston's most scenic and beloved trails.

BEGINNING OF IMAGE DESCRIPTION: THIS IMAGE IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF A HUGE PILE OF BROKEN-UP ASPHALT COMPLETELY BLOCKING THE ENTRANCE TO THE BATTERY DAVIS TUNNEL.
At huge expense, access-critical pavement was torn out.

Then in March, under threat of a federal lawsuit, the National Park Service "reopened" the Sunset Trail -- to some people.
The trail is now deep, drifting sand; wheelchair users and others with limited mobility have been shut out. The National Park Service may not be compelled to follow the A.D.A. (it has other rules), but it has called the Sunset Trail "an excellent example of an accessible trail".

At a time when barriers for people with disabilities are being dismantled and the nation celebrates ten years of guaranteed equal access for all, Fort Funston is a throwback to the "bad old days" when only certain groups were allowed to use public facilities for recreation.

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