Officials announced Tuesday that they had basically completed a plan to make Yuexiu Park more user friendly for the elderly and the disabled.

Guangzhou government started working on a plan to take down barriers facing the disabled and the elderly at its municipal parks in 2003, and announced Tuesday the main paths of all municipal parks and scenic spots had been made more accessible.

More than 50 percent of lavatories in the parks and scenic spots were also made more accessible. The lavatories provide facilities such as barrier-free toilet cubicles, grab bars and passages for wheelchairs.

The new parks will be constructed according to the barrier-free standards for the disabled and the elderly, while parks in all districts will achieve the goal by July this year, the Guangzhou Daily said.

The first footbridge with lift, which is located near the Huajing New Town on Zhongshan Road, will be put into use at the end of May. The lift made of transparent glass can bear the weight of eight persons each time, which is also designed for the disabled and the elderly.

(Shenzhen Daily May 26, 2005)