Handicapped accessibility an issue at Ribfest

At least one family is questioning Ribfest's handicapped accessibility after attending a concert at the Naperville festival.

Dan Bowers of Downers Grove and his wife, who is in a wheelchair, said they had nothing but struggles in trying to see REO Speedwagon in Knoch Park Friday night. He said organization and security both were lacking, creating an unsafe environment.

"It's something more Americans need to be more aware of, these people deserve equal access," Bowers said Saturday. "It doesn't matter what color we are. It doesn't matter what our handicap is ... we all get equal access."

Festival organizers blocked off an area up front near the stage for concertgoers who are handicapped, but Bowers said it was too small and no one stopped people who were not handicapped or with someone handicapped from entering it.

He also said a moving camera boom obstructed the view from that area and emergency exits were blocked at times. In addition, he had trouble finding handicapped parking and struggled to pull his wife's wheelchair through the grassy field.

Ribfest Chairman Don Emery said organizers improved handicapped accessibility this year but strive to continue to make it better. The handicapped area was moved closer to the stage than usual this year to try to make the view better for people in that section and, contrary to Bowers' claim, Emery said professional security personnel were stationed there to regulate who could enter.

However, Emery said there have been an ongoing discussions about how much space is needed - there were far fewer handicapped patrons just a night before - and whether family members of handicapped concertgoers should be allowed in that area.

In terms of parking, there were several dozen handicapped spaces directly in or around the field as well as drop off areas and shuttles from remote parking lots, Emery said. Adjustments also were made throughout the festival for those who were hearing-impaired.

Both Bowers and Emery said they are willing to talk about the situation so it can be improved in future years.

"At the end of the day it's not easy to make everyone perfectly happy," Emery said. "But we're trying to do better and better."