RAPID CITY, SD – In addition to the normal meeting affairs and amid national concerns over so-called “DEI” programs, the City Council hosted Rapid City’s Disability Awareness and Accessibility Committee (DAAC) this week, who celebrated 50 years of service to the community by presenting their work to the Council and an award to the Parks & Recreation department for their work in ensuring that all people of all abilities can enjoy life in Rapid City.
The committee, founded 50 years ago by Mayor Don Barnett has strived to improve the lives of disabled people in Rapid City, and served to facilitate ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) compliance since its inception 15 years after the committee’s foundation.
In recognition of this legacy, and the great strides rapid city has taken and is taking Tamie Hopp, chairperson of the committee presented the Parks and Recreation Department with an award, recognizing their collaboration and efforts to make Rapid City more accessible. During this award Hopp spoke warmly of the committee, saying “This department wants people of all abilities to enjoy our natural resources”. Mayor Salamun spoke highly as well of the recent accessibility renovations on his most recent visit to Dinosaur Park.
However it should be noted that while Rapid City’s work in enabling access to South Dakota’s nearly 24% disabled population is great, there is still work to be done for the parents, children, veterans, and recovering patients of the city– as Councilman Greg Strommen recalled in an anecdote of he and his brothers’ visit to Barnett Fieldhouse.
“He was falling on me, and I was almost falling over,” Strommen said, following “It just kind of shows how important it is,” highlighting the necessity of enforcing compliance for the safety of people, both disabled and abled.
For information, or to contact the Committee with comments or concerns, please visit their page on the rapid city government website.
