WORCESTER, Mass. — A new ramp at a Worcester voting site will help make the precinct more accessible to the community.

The ramp was installed at the American Legion East Side Post with the help of Worcester City Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, as well as Worcester firefighters and volunteers from the Central Massachusetts AFL-CIO. The ramp will permanently be part of the building. Mero-Carlson says it was difficult for many to get up the previous ramp. A group called the 'Ramp Gang,' which is made up of retired firefighters, decided to help and redirect it towards the parking lot in hopes of making it more convenient.

"This is huge that we finally for the City of Worcester and the Election Commission, we won't have to worry about this location will be accessible," Carlson said. "Not only for the folks who vote, but for all the veterans who come into this Post 201."

"This is one of the greatest, you know," said Election Commission Vice Chair Winnie Octave. "I never thought that would be such a big job. This is a real big job and I'm so proud of all the people who organized it."

"The veterans are generous in allowing people in the community to use the hall," said AFL-CIO Central Mass. President Joseph Carlson. "So, it's a win for everybody. It's terrific to still have a great building like this. Because there's not many places left, even for the city to choose to have people vote or people to have community activities."

The Central Mass AFL-CIO and United Way of Central Massachusetts helped raise money for the project. The ramp gang has built more than 200 ramps, totaling more than two miles in Worcester and its surrounding communities since 2006. The ramp was expected to be finished Saturday afternoon.