Coral World Marine Park has finished constructing a wheelchair lift at the entrance to its Caribbean Reef Encounter exhibit. The lift provides access to the center of the doughnut-shaped tank.
"As part of the reconstruction following Hurricane Marilyn (in 1995), we redesigned the park to provide accessibility to as many exhibits as possible," said Trudie J. Prior, president and general manager.
Wide, smooth walkways and ramps lead to the major exhibits, and restrooms can accommodate wheelchairs. The park also has provided interpretive signage for the hearing impaired. And its numerous informative talks and feedings throughout the day, allowing patrons to touch or feed the animals, are designed for everyone, including the visually impaired.
According to Prior, "Because the steps to the two levels of the Undersea Observatory, built in 1977, are circular staircases that may be difficult for some of our guests, the next project in our accessibility program is to have television monitors on the top level showing feedings in the Predator Tank, and the noncaptive marine life outside the bottom level windows fifteen feet below the sea."
