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Y.E.A.! Advocacy Team

Position Paper on Lawn Access at the

Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater

 

May 3, 2005

 

Y.E.A.! Team works to bring accessibility to the lawn seating at the

Virginia Beach Amphitheater: “Patriots for Independence on the Hill”

 

The Y.E.A.! (Young Endependent Advocates) Advocacy Team (formerly the Transition Advocacy Team) is dedicated to making our community more accessible for everyone. Our mission statement is: the Y.E.A.! Advocacy Team is a group of young adults with disabilities who work to remove barriers and increase accessibility for persons with disabilities to the communities of the Tidewater area.

 

In the summer of 2002 we wanted to attend a concert.  We wanted to hang out together on the lawn. At this time it came to our attention that the lawn seating at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater is all steps, and no ramp!  Many in our group use wheelchairs, walkers, or have difficulty climbing steps, so we chose instead to go to the NTLEOS Pavilion in Portsmouth.  Their lawn seating is ramped, and is very accessible to all our needs.  We had a great time hanging out together on the lawn at NTELOS. We want to thank the NTELOS Pavilion for thinking of accessibility and equal access. 

 

We believe the same option should be available to us in Virginia Beach. We support the Virginia Beach Amphitheater.  Many of us live in Virginia Beach and it’s a long way to travel Portsmouth for a concert. The Virginia Beach Amphitheater also gets really cool concerts, like Creed and Brittany Spears where often the NTELOS Pavilion caters to a more mature crowd. 

 

This October will mark three years in which our Team has been working with the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater and the department of Economic Development for the city of Virginia Beach to address the need for accessibility to the lawn seating. Our Team also worked with the Endependence Center to provide free technical assistance to the Amphitheater to assist them to assess options for making the lawn accessible. Technical assistance was provided in a meeting attended by staff from the Endependence Center, from the Amphitheater and from the department of Economic Development from the City of Virginia Beach. 

 

The Team has communicated repeatedly by letters and phonecalls with Matt Rogers, Manager of the Virginia Beach Amphitheater.  At first he assured us that modifications would be made and vendors were being researched. Then in September of 2004, he told the Team that he and Mark Warner from the department of Economic Development in Virginia Beach had decided not to make the lawn accessible after all.  However, in the last month, Matt Rogers has agreed to a meeting between members of the Y.E.A.! Team, vendors of wheelchair stair lifts, and technical staff from the Endependence Center to look at options to install a stair lift and create accessible seating on the lawn.  The Y.E.A.! Team is excited about this opportunity but seeks support to ensure that an option is found and that access is truly implemented and not just talked about. 

 

The Y.E.A.! Team believes that access to the lawn seating benefits everyone.  Tourists expect accessibility and recreation options such as they experience in other states where they enjoy accessible buildings and activities. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act states that state and local governments- and the City of Virginia Beach contracts with Clear Channel to manage the Amphitheater- must ensure that its programs are provided in the most integrated setting possible- settings that allow individuals with disabilities to interact with non-disabled individuals to the maximum extent possible.

 

There is currently no integration possible on the lawn. The Team would like to have access for everyone on the lawn. Team members have expressed a variety of feelings of disappointment and frustration that in 2005 we are still unable to sit on the lawn with everyone else for only the reason of having a physical disability.  The tickets on the lawn are more affordable and you can’t experience a concert under the stars any other way- just as the commercials say.

 

The Y.E.A.! Team feels that we have done our part. We provided free technical assistance to the Amphitheater and we made the issue known.  We have offered to help advertise access once it is achieved.  We have support from other members of the community, from a member of the Virginia Beach City Council and from a Virginia Beach Senator.  Our Team has over 250 signatures on a petition from concerned citizens who support accessibility to the Virginia Beach Amphitheater lawn. These citizens understand that access means better business and equality in a community where the Americans with Disabilities Act is upheld and respected. 

 

The Team began talking to the Amphitheater about this issue in October, 2002 and there is still no option for people needing ramp access to be able to enjoy the concert under the stars and no commitment to meet this need in the future.

 

We would like your support in making the Virginia Beach Amphitheater lawn accessible to people using wheelchairs and having a variety of other disabilities.  Why is this important to our community? Because, the lawn seats are affordable!  The lawn atmosphere is more casual and relaxed! You can stretch out on a blanket under the stars and hang out with friends. We want the choice to sit where we want and to have equal access to all seating sections!

 

Let’s work together with the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater to be able to provide equal access to all it’s customers.  Virginia Beach deserves to be able to proud of a fully accessible Amphitheater where everyone can enjoy concerts together.

 

Thank you for your support.

Members of the Y.E.A.! Advocacy Team

 

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