Shreveport to Become More Accessible

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Shreveport will probably have to spend about $2 million to $4 million over the next three years to make its facilities compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act, according to a proposal the City Council will consider today.

The Council will vote on a bill that would authorize Mayor Keith Hightower to sign an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice requiring the city to improve the accessibility of more than 50 buildings and documented areas.

The resolution stems from more than a year of negotiations with representatives of the Department of Justice under their Project Civic Access program.

The suggested improvements -- literally, hundreds of them -- include creating more toilets at the City Jail, adding an accessible drinking fountain at Municipal Auditorium, adding more handicap parking at Independence Stadium and improving access to the coat check counter at the new Convention Hall.

The timetable for improving the deficiencies will range from six months to three years, depending on the size, cost and importance of the project. Should the work not be completed at the end of three years, the Department of Justice could file a lawsuit against the city.