Advocating for Accessibility: Potawatomi Tower's Unresolved Future

Like most, public speaking makes me nervous. I’ve surely improved since my high school days of speeding through speeches, still shaking after returning to my desk. Now, I can speak clearly and confidently in front of large groups of strangers. Typically, the speaking engagements I pursue involve people who want to hear my experiences and perspectives. From Leader Dogs for the Blind fundraising events to environmental education conferences, my voice was appreciated.

I’m not sure if this was the case for a recent public meeting I attended. My voice opposed the majority opinion.

A picture of Potawatomi Observation Tower. Taken from the ground, this photo shows the wooden tower standing tall among the trees that surround it. — 1

A Bit of Backstory

Potawatomi State Park is a small state park in Door County, Wisconsin. The park’s rolling landscape features limestone cliffs, luscious forest, and beautiful views of the Bay of Green Bay.

A big draw to the park is the Potawatomi Observation Tower, a 75-foot wooden tower offering panaramoic views. Built in 1932, the tower was the first one built in the state specifically for tourism. Its long history holds great significance for the park, Door County residents and visitors, and Wisconsin as a whole.

An inspection by the Forest Department revealed significant wood decay, causing the tower to close in 2017. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) decided it was best to demolish the treasured landmark.

To save the tower from demolition, the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society Foundation seeked historic preservation listing for the structure. In 2019, Potawatomi Tower was listed on the State Register of Historic Places. The following year, it received recognition on the National Register of Historic Places. All decisions regarding the tower must now go through these state and national agencies.

A Second and Third Look…

After the initial inspection, two others were done. The Sturgeon Bay Historical Society Foundation commissioned Dan Tingley of Wood Research and Wood Development to conduct an evaluation. Tingley’s report contrasted the original report. According to Tingey, the tower could be saved by repairing it in place. The decaying wood simply needed to be replaced.

In response, the DNR hired a third-party consultant to inspect the tower. Yes, Tingley was correct in saying the tower could be saved. The DNR was given three options based off this report. Demolish the tower and build a new one. Deconstruct, repair, and rebuild. Or repair in place.

By the third assessment, accessibility became a factor. Whatever decision the DNR made, ADA compliance was necessary.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with disabilities from discrimination. Passed in 1990, this monumental law promotes equal access in all public spaces for anyone of any ability. Since 1990, all new public buildings and facilities must comply with ADA standards.

Remodeling buildings and facilities constructed before 1990 can pose challenges, both financially and structurally. For this reason, standards for these structures aren’t as strict. Due to their construction, it may simply be impossible to make a place accessible. In this case, alternative means of accommodations must be provided.

In 2021, the DNR scrapped the idea of demolition, and decided to pursue repairs. With ADA compliance, repairs are estimated to be $5 million.

There’s a lot to consider. Historical significance, ADA accessibility, cost, method of repair…the list goes on. So, the tower continues to remain closed, untouched, and a topic of debate.

There’s Already an Accessible Tower

One argument is that there’s already an accessible observation tower. Wisconsin’s first.

Eagle Tower, located in Peninsula State Park, is 30 miles north of Potawatomi State Park. Opened in 2021, the accessible observation tower stands 60-feet tall and overlooks the park, islands, and distant Upper Michigan shoreline. This is the third Eagle Tower built. The first was built as a fire tower in 1914. In 1932, the tower was dismantled and rebuilt, with additional safety measures added in 1972. Eagle Tower 2 was open to the public until 2015, when it closed due to safety concerns.

The same, beautiful views can be reached by using the Canopy Walk, an 850-foot long ramp that weaves through the trees, or by climbing 95 stairs. This project was possible because of fundraising done by the Friends of Peninsula State Park, who raised about $750,000 of the $3.5 million needed to complete the project.

An image of Eagle Tower and Canopy Walk. The wooden tower is seen to the left, with a segment of Canopy Walk connecting with the tower's observation deck. The Canopy Walk is a long ramp, extending out of frame into the nearby trees. — 2

The Public Meeting

So here we are, in 2022 with no definite future for Potawatomi Tower. When an opportunity arose for me to share my opinion at a public meeting, I jumped at it.

It would be my first time speaking at a public meeting on such a heated topic. I knew that if I stayed silent, I would regret it.

So, I wrote up a little speech and practiced. Cut and revised, practiced more. As the public meeting inched closer, day by day, hour by hour, the more nervous I grew.

Finally, it was time. 4:00 on a Thursday afternoon and I joined the virtual Zoom meeting.

The mediator explained the rules. Registered speakers would be called to share in alphabetical order. Speakers only had three minutes to make their comment, with no interruptions. I didn’t know what to expect, but I hoped I wasn’t the only one in favor of making the tower accessible.

The first comment set the tone for the rest of the meeting. The speaker recited the list of all those in favor of restoring the tower and ended his statement by saying not every state park need accessible structures.

Thankfully, someone who shared my opinion went next. The tower should be accessible to everyone, regardless of ability. I was relieved, I wasn’t alone.

Soon enough, it was my turn and I recited my speech, speaking from the heart, pausing dramatically where dramatic pauses were needed.

I started off on a personal note, sharing my connection to the park. Potawatomi State Park was my first place of employment. In the summer of 2015, I worked as an Assistant Naturalist, an experience that led me to pursue my current career as an environmental educator.

I climbed the tower a handful of times with family and friends. The breathtaking view was well worth the climb. Views that connected me more with my home.

I shared about my vision loss and how I no longer felt comfortable climbing those stairs. I shared that I’m 1 in 4 adults in the United States with a physical disability.

I advocated for the aging population of Door County and its visitors, whose age might one day, lead to a disability – hoping this would strike something in the older crowd.

I acknowledged the importance of preserving history, but advocated for the present and future.

I advocated for the importance of equal access to this tower and the connections and memories it creates.

And then it was over. Finally, I could relax…kind of.

History must be preserved. The benefits of preserving this tower go beyond any dollar amount spent.

Accessible structures could be built somewhere else.

I support handicapped people, but this tower must be restored.

Handicapped, a word used by many of the speakers. An outdated term.

A term used by a state representative. A state representative who also said the DNR was using the ADA as an excuse to tear down the tower.

I cringed at so many moments, my heart slowly breaking as I heard more people speak for restoring the tower with no accessible features.

At the end of the almost two hour public meeting, about five people had mentioned the importance of accessibility for people with disabilities. I was hurt, disappointed.

So many people valued their memories over equal access. History, more than the present and future.

So many, envisioned themselves, their children, their grandchildren as able-bodied and able to enjoy the tower, without even considering the alternative.

My voice meant so little, to so many.

Despite the frustrations I felt, one thing was for certain.

I wanted my voice to keep being heard.

Thank you for reading and for considering my perspective.

Photo Descriptions & Credits

Featured photo: A view of the sunset over Sawyer Harbor, taken atop the Potawatomi Observation Tower. Silhouettes of trees, an island, and shoreline are seen. A few large clouds lumber in the sky, still light even though the sun has disappeared below the horizon. White text at the bottom of the image reads Advocating for Accessibility: Potawatomi Tower’s Unresolved Future in handwritten fonts.

Photo 1: An image of Potawatomi Observation Tower, taken from the ground looking up. The woooden tower stands tall amongst surrounding trees. Photo credit: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Photo 2: The newly constructed Eagle Tower and Canopy Walk. The wooden observation tower stands tall to the right, and a large, long ramp connects to the top of the tower. The Canopy Walk extends off into the trees. Cars parked below appear tiny compared to the large structure. Blue sky and trees are also in view. Photo credit: 1440 WROK.