An evening exploring accessibility in Cicero, Indiana

Check the hours before you go. Some of the shops and restaurants are closed on Sundays and Mondays.

There are a few free parking areas that you can park in when visiting downtown Cicero that have accessible spots. I also noticed several accessible street parking spaces as I explored the downtown area.

There is not an hourly time limit on these spaces as there is in some cities.

There are several restaurants to choose from in the downtown area of Cicero, found in a short distance of one another.

The day I visited, I ate at the Boathouse Kitchen & Swan Dive. This restaurant has a beautiful view of Morse Reservoir. There are two accessible parking spaces in the parking lot at the restaurant.

The entrance to the restaurant is flat and easy to maneuver in a wheelchair. I was able to easily roll up to the host stand. I sat at an outdoor table with a beautiful view and a nice breeze. While not all their outdoor seating is accessible, there are several tables that are in the dining and outside bar area.

Note: The restroom stalls are not wheelchair accessible. My wheelchair would not fit into any of the stalls in the women’s restroom, unfortunately.

Just west of their parking lot, is a ramp that leads down to a set of boat docks. If visiting the restaurant by boat, these docks are accessible directly from the ramp.

After having a bite to eat, you can head west to go across a long bridge over to Red Bridge Park. If you want to take in views of the lake, there is a paved and generously wide sidewalk along the bridge. There are a couple of spots with benches along the way.

If you head east, you will find yourself in the charming downtown area of Cicero.

Note: Cicero is currently in the process of revitalizing their downtown, including sidewalk and ramp updates. There are stores that are still inaccessible due to historic preservation. Any newly constructed commercial facilities are required by law to be ADA compliant.

I have also eaten at the Red Bridge Bistro. I found this to be an accessible experience, including the restrooms and the patio seating area.

10 West is another dining possibility downtown Cicero. Their front entrance has several stairs, but around the side of the building they have an accessible entrance. From there, you can take small elevator to get you up to the restaurant’s main level.

I have not dined at DeLullo’s Trattoria, but I did notice a nice ramp leading to their entrance.

To finish off our visit, we stopped by Alexanders On the Water for a cool treat. They have several outdoor tables, most of which are in the grass and not accessible by wheelchair. They do have a couple of tables on the paved area where you order that I was able to wheel under. This restaurant is only open March through October.

Note: There is an accessible parking space in the parking lot at Alexanders, but no striped access aisle. They have a ramp that leads up to the outdoor order window. However, there is a non-accessible parking space directly in front of the ramp, so if someone parks there, the ramp is not accessible.

There are not any dedicated public restrooms in downtown Cicero. Along with the restaurants, a few of the shops do have restrooms. There are public restrooms located across the bridge in Red Bridge Park, and they are accessible.

The first time I visited Red Bridge Park in Cicero was a couple of years ago for the adaptive Cicero water ski clinic, hosted by RHI Sports Program. It was one of the best days of my life, getting to experience water skiing for the first time. There are many wonderful volunteers from the community who make this event possible. I loved it so much that I went back for round two the next day! This is a two-day event.

Fun fact: You can watch the action from across the lake at the Boathouse Kitchen & Swan Dive. The clinic also has a boat to take family members or friends out to watch their skier in action and take photos and videos. I was able to hear my friend who went with me cheering me on as the boat rode alongside me as I was skiing.

They hold the clinic each year in June, and it is recommended to sign up ahead of time, as this is a popular event that does fill up quickly.

For more information visit their website.

Another feature at Red Bridge Park is their ADA-accessible canoe and kayak launch. I had only seen one of these on video, so it was neat to see in person. It is equipped with transfer benches, slide boards, and side rails for easy water access. There is a ramp that leads directly down to the canoe and kayak launch area.

Red Bridge Park has several accessible parking spaces, and a paved path to the accessible restroom. These bathrooms have a large stall for a wheelchair. I was able to roll under the sink to wash my hands.

The Cicero fishing pier located in the park is accessible for wheelchair users. It extends out over Morse Reservoir and has great views. There are also a couple of picnic tables on the pier.

I found Cicero to be an accessible experience. I appreciated the updated sidewalks that help make the downtown area more manageable in a wheelchair. There were some frustrations, as with any historic downtown area, such as a single step to get into some of the shops. There are some things that are not accessible with historic preservation.

If you are looking for accessibility, small-town charm and beautiful water views, consider spending an afternoon or evening in downtown Cicero, Indiana!