Are the visitors' bleachers at Viking Stadium handicapped accessible?

Posted: Wed, Apr 15, 2020 2:48 PM

How easy is it for someone with a handicap to access the visitor grandstand at Viking Stadium? That's the question being raised by Decorah School Board member John Hjelle, who says he's been approached by a family with complaints about the rough surface people in wheelchairs must travel to get from the home grandstand to the visitors' grandstand.

Hjelle says the family also says seating for someone with a handicap who wants to watch a track meet or football game from the visitor stands is also an issue.

Athletic Director Adam Riley says the school district has a multi-year plan for upgrades to Viking Stadium, so improvements are being planned. He also notes, however, that because the stadium is located along the Upper Iowa River, there are restrictions on what can be done at Viking Stadium—especially on the visitors' side of the facility.

Photos taken by decorahnews.com show the concrete sidewalk on the home side of the stadium ends and is replaced by a gravel path which has been overtaken by grass and weeds the further away the path goes from the home side of the stadium.