Resources
TRAIL DESIGN
Trails for All People: Guidance for Accessibility and Inclusive Design
(available as a PDF from https://www.americantrails.org/resources/trails-for-all-people)
How can trail groups, local governments, and land trusts responsibly plan, develop, and operate trails that are accessible by all people, including those with limited mobility? What are best management practices? What is legally required? When is universal accessibility not appropriate?
US Forest Service Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails
https://www.fs.usda.gov/t-d/pubs/htmlpubs/htm06232801/toc.htm
This guidebook is intended to help designers and recreation professionals apply the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines (FSORAG) and Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines (FSTAG). These guidelines only apply on National Forest System lands. While they are official policy only for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, they contain useful concepts to help other agencies and organizations develop accessible outdoor recreation and accessible trails.
The 7 Principles of Universal Design
https://universaldesign.ie/about-universal-design/the-7-principles
The 7 Principles of Universal Design were developed in 1997 by a working group of architects, product designers, engineers and environmental design researchers, led by the late Ronald Mace in the North Carolina State University (NCSU). The purpose of the Principles is to guide the design of environments, products and communications. According to the Center for Universal Design in NCSU, the Principles “may be applied to evaluate existing designs, guide the design process and educate both designers and consumers about the characteristics of more usable products and environments.”
Mass Audobon Accessible Trails Guideline Manual
https://accessrec.org/mass-audubon-releases-accessible-trails-manual-free/
Mass Audubon (an Access Recreation Boston member organization) is pleased to announce the release of our Accessible Trails Guidelines Manual, a FREE comprehensive guidebook for developing and sustaining accessible interpreted trails. With this, we hope to share what we have learned with other organizations that seek to build nature trails for people of all abilities. The manual provides ideas for collaborative partnerships, developing and testing trail materials with volunteer expert users and resource professionals, and outreach.
ACCESSIBLE TRAILS
Welcome to the Autism Nature Trail at Letchworth State Park
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sdoP4Sf76s
The Autism Nature Trail (ANT) at Letchworth State Park is the first outdoor recreation trail specifically designed to be accessible and enjoyable for all people, including people on the autism spectrum and people with physical disabilities. Join Loren Penman for a quick introduction to the ANT, its mission, its story, and some of its nature stations.
Experience Sky Meadows State Park’s Sensory Explorers’ Trail
No matter your age or ability, connect your senses to nature with Sky Meadows’ newest trail, the Sensory Explorers’ Trail. At just .3 mile in length, with ample shade and plenty of benches, the trail is perfect for your young children and strollers, or anyone who seeks a short, easy hike to connect with nature. The interpretive signs provide a wealth of information, and leave you excited to learn more at home or on future visits.
Sensory Forest at Kreher Preserve and Nature Center, Auburn University
https://kpnc.auburn.edu/sensoryforest/
The KPNC Sensory Forest has a series of experiences along an accessible trail that are designed to engage all 7 senses and immerse us in a multi-sensory journey.
Lime Hollow Nature Center
https://www.limehollow.org/accessibility
The Lime Hollow Nature Center is committed to providing access to the outdoors for people with all abilities and of all ages. Lime Hollow maintains an Accessible Trail which has a crushed stone substrate and gentle slopes suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. The trails connects to an observation deck and the Eric Kroot Art Trail. The Art Trail is accessible to wheelchairs during most times of the year, and to strollers and people with mobility challenges throughout the year.
PRESS & MEDIA
Passage of the EXPLORE Act Reflects a Transformative Milestone for Outdoor Access in America
Trust for Public Land celebrates the Senate’s passage of the EXPLORE Act, which includes the Outdoors for All Act, a key initiative that Trust for Public Land has been advocating for since 2018. This act is vital for ensuring equitable access to parks and outdoor spaces for all Americans. This groundbreaking bipartisan legislation represents a historic step forward in addressing disparities in park access and expanding outdoor equity nationwide.
Natural Bridge installs RightHear Accessibility system for guests who are blind or have low vision
https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/blog/right-hear
Recognizing the importance of making these experiences accessible to everyone, the park has taken a significant step forward by installing the RightHear Accessibility system. This cutting-edge technology is designed to assist people who are blind or visually impaired, ensuring that they can navigate the park with greater independence and confidence.
Helping Disabled People Find Belonging Outdoors
https://www.wta.org/news/magazine/features/helping-disabled-people-find-belonging-outdoors
Many people with disabilities don’t get to experience outdoor recreation at all. There is ample evidence that time in nature provides a range of physical, emotional and mental benefits and can enhance a sense of belonging. Yet the people who need these benefits the most – the disability community — are often excluded from the outdoors.
Inclusive Landscape Design: Virginia Tech’s Practice, Accessibility Standards, Sensory Applications, and Accessible Kayak Docks
Recently, some brilliant Virginia Tech landscape architecture students unleashed their inner heroes by designing an inclusive trail system for Pocahontas State Park. Their mission? To prioritize accessibility for visitors of ALL abilities! Talk about a quest worth undertaking! This project, the focus of the annual Richard G. Gibbons Virginia Public Open Space Charette, challenged these students to come up with design solutions for public open spaces that would make a real difference.
RESEARCH
The Effect of an Outdoor Recreation Program on Individuals with Disabilities and Their Family Members: A Case Study, Therapeutic Recreation Journal,
Vol. 50, No. 2 (2016)
https://js.sagamorepub.com/index.php/trj/article/view/6527
Efforts to understand physical activity and its potential effect on psychosocial well-being have been extensive (Blick et al., 2015; Folkins, 1976). Physical activity has been shown to improve psychological wellness, and benefits are enhanced when activities are performed outdoors (Boden & Hartig, 2003). Common Ground was established to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities through outdoor recreation. Informed by general and family systems theory, the present qualitative case study was designed to develop an in-depth understanding of Common Ground, an outdoor recreation program for individuals with disabilities. Results of three semi-structured focus groups offer a breadth of perspectives on the effect of Common Ground on program participants and their family members, and how outdoor recreation opportunities help reduce stereotypes, while empowering participants to realize their full potential. This work has the potential to inform therapeutic recreation research and enhance the provision of recreation services to individuals with disabilities.