RISH PARK VIDEO, FEBRUARY 2011, ACCESSIBLE TEXT - - - - - VIDEO OF SCENES OF RISH PARK, MATCHING NARRATION ANNOUNCER: This beautiful piece of Florida’s coastline is William J. Rish Recreational Park. It is a fully accessible park near Port St. Joe in Northwest Florida, dedicated to providing recreational opportunities to all people with disabilities. It's like having an "all access pass" to fun in the sun! Florida’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities manages the park. It is named in memory of the state legislator who created it—Representative William Joseph Rish. It's often called Billy Joe Rish Park, because locals referred to their longtime legislator as Billy Joe Rish. SOUNDBITE--CAROL RISH, WIFE OF REP. WILLIAM J. RISH: "He felt that people with disabilities should have an opportunity to enjoy this beautiful beach and recreation facility the same as any other person." ANNOUNCER: Rish persuaded the federal government to give the nearly 100 acres of pristine land to the state in 1964. The property has acreage reaching both coasts of the St. Joseph Peninsula near Cape San Blas, with the Gulf of Mexico on the west side of the park, and St. Joseph Bay on the east. The gulf side of the park was recently renovated to repair damage from hurricanes and to improve accessibility. The boardwalk throughout the gulf side was replaced, making access easier for people who use wheelchairs or have mobility issues. Ramps make it easy for people to get down to the beach and enjoy the clear blue salt water. The Olympic-size swimming pool with wheelchair access was renovated, so it's better than ever! Rish Park has eight cabins with kitchens for overnight visitors. They were updated with stronger roofs to resist hurricanes and to provide ADA enhancements to improve the independence of campers with disabilities. The park has a main lodge with dining facilities where dances and special events are held. It also serves as a movie theater for visitors. Park goers give the increased accessibility and related improvements rave reviews. But there are many more reasons to like Rish Park. SOUNDBITE--RUSSELL REGISTER, SUNLAND CENTER: "Folks are able to just enjoy nature at its best, and to be together with friends and meet other people that come and rent the park, just great activities." SOUNDBITE--TAMMY JENKS, PARK VISITOR: "I like it down here all the time. It's quiet and it's peaceful and I like to hear the waves running." ANNOUNCER: Visitors with disabilities may stay for a few hours, the whole day, even a week! Or anything in between. Reservations are required for all overnight campers. Regular visitors are hoping to see more improvements at Rish Park. Future plans include renovations on the bay side, such as replacing the boardwalk. That will improve wheelchair accessibility, and allow visitors once again to do some freshwater fishing in a bay side pond that has become overgrown from lack of use. SOUNDBITE--DAVID REGISTER, PARK VISITOR: "'Go fishing down there. I caught a big bass out of this, right out there. (How big?) Like that. 'Hangin' on the wall at the house." ANNOUNCER: Additional boardwalks could be built through the sand dunes and groves so people with all types of mobility can enjoy nature trails. An accessible tree house observation tower would be located near the bay so visitors could catch a great view. SOUNDBITE--WILLIAM "JAY" RISH JR.: When this vision was dreamt of, there wasn't an ADA, it wasn't fashionable, it wasn't politically correct, and these were forgotten people. And I think that he realized that everyone needed an advocate, and this just became his pet project. And here we are today at this beautiful facility that has a lot more to be done. ANNOUNCER: Long-term plans include constructing a campground for recreational vehicles and another for tent campers. Also, building a dock for pontoon boats and kayaks so visitors can enjoy water sports. All of the park's future upgrades will be designed to make it even more user friendly for individuals with disabilities, just as Representative Rish had envisioned. SOUNDBITE--CAROL RISH: I do know that he would have been so happy to see his dream fulfilled. ANNOUNCER: To learn more about visiting the park and its plans for the future, visit RishPark.org. - - - - - ©2011 Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities