Sasaki
Curbed published an article about the accessibility features of the Sasaki-designed Watertown Riverfront Park and Braille Trail, calling it a “true community site.” Officially opened this summer, the quarter mile stretch of park space along the Charles River is designed for all ages, body types, and abilities.
Sasaki’s designs for the park ensure that everyone can enjoy the riverfront. The wide walkway along the river accommodates wheelchairs and includes specially-designed braille signage and a cable system to aid navigation for the visually impaired. To enrich the experience of the river, a sensory garden encourages users to appreciate non-visual qualities of the riverfront.
The park opened to the public in July
Sasaki landscape architect, Travis Mazerall, ASLA, who led the park’s design, shared his thoughts on designing for accessibility in the article. “Universal design is just part of the design for us, we don’t separate the two,” he explained. “It’s important to, say, have benches for elderly people so they can take breaks. There are always strategies that allow you to go above and beyond the requirements of accessible design.”
Read the article in full here.
Too often in the design world the term “accessible design” is an epithet for meeting the minimum requirements put forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Learn how Sasaki designers are reinventing inclusive best practices that aim to create spaces suited for all users
The new civic amenity has guide wire and Braille markers, enabling blind and low-sighted users to navigate the park and riverfront independently