The city of Plano will direct hundreds of thousands of dollars toward making sure its facilities are up to par with federal regulations that protect people with disabilities.

Plano City Council on Monday approved a $766,310 contract with consulting firm Cole & Associates to evaluate the city’s facilities, services and programs and determine whether they comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The firm’s review will include a review of city buildings, public parks, sidewalks, parking lots and traffic intersections, according to the agreement approved Monday. It will also examine the city’s design and construction standards and other policies.

In a document prepared for council members, city staff said passing the item would be required to ensure the city’s compliance with the law, and that not approving the contract would make it more likely that people with disabilities would face barriers within the city.

In other business, council members extended by four months the timeline for the development of a water walk at Plano’s Environmental Education Center at 4116 W. Plano Parkway.

The water walk project is intended to provide better access to the creek and wildlife on-site, according to city documents.

The water walk contract will now end Aug. 31.