Rodeo is now more handicap accessible

There's a new handicapped-accessible parking and viewing area at the Ridge Riders Rodeo Grounds, just in time for this year's Colorama Pro-West Rodeo.

Workers prepared the site last week and concrete was poured Thursday morning.

Inspiration for the project was attributed to Ann Elliot, who had used the handicapped seating area, described by one Ridge Riders official as "poorly designed," and offered a good report on what she could see of the 2017 rodeo event, which wasn't much.

The Ridge Riders picked up on that critique and started laying plans to improve the handicapped-accessible area for this year's event.

One factor helped get the project done in time for the 62nd running of the popular rodeo.

A local resident, Anita Condon, provided a financial gift to the Ridge Riders to move the project along.

Those in the handicapped area will be able to sit under umbrellas and will probably have the best viewing area of anyone attending the rodeo.

Also, DWK Fowler provided the manpower to get the area ready for the concrete pour, and then company workers attended the actual pour.

The new handicapped-accessible parking and seating area will make access to the rodeo easier and the viewing much improved, Ridge Rider officials stated.

The rodeo group has installed signage to make it easy to access the handicapped-accessible site.