Communications and Outreach Archives - Nature: Accessible for All

The South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO) has announced the launch and development of a Regional Active Transportation Plan (ATP) for Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem Counties. The plan aims to enhance mobility, accessibility, and safety for all residents and visitors by connecting key regional destinations, promoting economic growth, and integrating with larger trails networks in the future. The plan focuses on undeserved communities and incorporates analyses of demographic, safety, and traffic stress factors to develop a comprehensive, interconnected network of active transportation infrastructure. Prioritized improvements and implementation steps are scheduled to begin in 2026. As part of this effort, the SJTPO invites the public to share input on current transportation experiences, travel patterns, challenges, and desired transportation improvements. Your voice is vital in guiding strategies and improvements for a better transportation network for everyone. The survey will be open until November 31, 2025.

• English – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SJTPOATP
• Spanish – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SJTPOATPesp

Somerset County Park Commission want to hear from you!!! Assist the county parks with your feedback for there all terrain wheelchair survey.

The Somerset County Park Commission is exploring options to obtain an all-terrain
wheelchair (ATW) and/or other power-driven mobility device (OPDMD) to have available for
use by park visitors. An ATW or OPDMD will help make SCPC parks accessible to more
individuals. If you, or someone you know could benefit from this offering, please consider
completing the survey and/or joining us for a focus group session. Your input is important!

Here is a link to the survey – http://www.somersetcountyparks.org/home/webforms/survey-all-terrain-wheelchairs

The United Spinal Association’s Advocacy Department has several popular working groups which provide opportunities for members to organize around the issues that matter most to them. Find out more about each group on their website – Advocacy Working Groups – United Spinal Association and complete the form to join any or all groups.

In this Access Nature Forum we hear from Dr. Natalie Schultz-Kahwaty; Director of the Dance for PD program at Rutgers University – Mason Gross School of Music. Which received a stipend from PPA’s Nature: Accessible for All campaign. The stipend intends to enable Mason Gross to offer free programs for individuals with disabilities to participate in activities at the Rutgers Botanical Gardens and the Accessible Garden in New Brunswick, NJ. In this forum, we will hear about the project and its planning, implementation, and its outcomes.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provided a grant to fund the work of PPA and its partners in launching and sustaining the Nature: Accessible for All campaign. The Campaign is a collaborative effort by individuals, public agencies, and nonprofits to ensure that people with disabilities, their families, and allies can and do enjoy New Jersey’s extraordinary natural places.

In this video Access Nature Disability Advocate Sean Holland takes the GRIT for a spin on the beach to test what the capabilities of our new mobility assistive equipment is, for our inclusive nature programs.

In this short clip, we follow one of our Pinelands Adventures educational staff Monica, who leads a group of students from Kingsway Learning Center on one of our trial inclusive eco-tours at Atsion Recreation Area.