Category: Access Nature Forums

The Access Nature Forum was delighted to host an insightful discussion led by Tom Hennigan from the JORBA Trail Association. In the presentation, Tom discussed how to provide access to native surface trails in the backcountry and adapt universal trail design principles to include a broad spectrum of trail users. He also provided an introduction to adaptive mountain biking and discussed guidelines for building inclusive, sustainable and accessible trails. His presentation includes recommendations for trail width, camber, turn radius, and grade to accommodate adaptive mountain bikes as well as considerations to balance accessibility, sustainability, and environmental impact when developing inclusive trails.

The inaugural zoom meeting provided a tutorial of the www.AccessNatureNJ.org website. We covered use of the mobile website, how to personally update information and we took feedback for improvements. More information about this project can be found at www.pinelandsalliance.org/the-pinelands-is-for-everyone/access-nature-forum/

Get to know your National Parks in New Jersey! Join us for a conversation with Jeremy Buzzell, Branch Chief for the National Parks Accessibility Program. He will discuss his role, current projects and initiatives, opportunities for networking, information on funding opportunities and resources, and items to focus on for our goals. There will be time to ask questions. National Parks in New Jersey include Sandy Hook’s Gateway National Recreation Area and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

Here is a recording of a conversation with Craig Ismaili, a staff attorney with Disability Rights NJ, and his colleague Regina Smith. The presentation summarized the relevant regulations regarding inclusion and accessibility for vision impairments, deaf or hard of hearing, sensory processing disorders, and anxiety. They highlighted examples from across the country and brainstormed best practices for increasing accessibility and enjoyment of outdoor spaces in NJ in relation to these disability concerns. Finally, attendees reviewed considerations and tips to begin the conversation about accessibility in their own space.

In this webinar, we hear from Matt Johnson, Coordinator, Open Space Acquisition & Park/Trail Development with Burlington County Parks learning about the park system’s improvements to their facilities and trails, highlighting their focus on inclusion and accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

In this webinar we hear from Peter Dolan, Senior Trail Planner – New York-New Jersey Trail Conference about what makes a trail accessible for the most trail users possible. Topics cover in the webinar include:

About the Trail Conference

• Personal Experience with Accessibility

• Defining “Accessibility”

• Trail Accessibility Legislation

• Connecting Accessibility and Sustainability

• Other Accessible Design Elements

• Call to Action: Don’t Let Perfect be the Enemy of Good

• Resources