Category: Trail and Outdoor Rec Accessibility Improvement tips
American Trails has numerous resources from webinars, trainings, databases and best pratice douments for land managers, nonprofits, and volunteer orgs looking to improve inclusion and accessibility to our outdoor spaces for people with disabilities. Below is a few resources for those seeking to develop improved accessibility for disabilities.
Tools and Technology for Accessible Trails
Trail-Guidelines-in-PDF-2020.pdf
View more resources – Trail Accessibility Hub – American Trails
Every resident deserves access to their community’s waterfront but most legacy dock systems weren’t built with accessibility in mind, leaving many visitors unable to safely reach the water.
There are now several companies that design and manufacture ADA compliant floating dock systems engineered for the demands of public parks and municipal waterfronts. These companies help you meet accessibility standards without compromising durability or design.
Check out there websites:
AccuDock – Custom Residential & Commercial Floating Docks
Boardsafe – BoardSafe Docks
The NJ Forest Resource Center Jackson, NJ is truly an amazing place as we celebrate the continued efforts to make the spaces more accessible for the entire community to enjoy and learn about the natural significance of New Jersey’s great outdoors.
The recently revitalized quarter-mile Sensory Awareness Trail at the DEP’s Forest Resource Education Center in Jackson, Ocean County, where visitors of all abilities may use multiple senses to explore forest and habitat along the out-and-back route.
Sensory Awareness Trail upgrades, also include an improved permeable surface and an upgraded guide rope for visitors with visual impairments, with wooden markers identifying interpretive exhibits, benches and a new trailhead kiosk provides information on the trail’s accessible features.
The team that came together to make this project come to fruition is a truly magnificent group from Pinelands Alliance, NJFS Nursery, the private sector, NJ State Parks, NJFS FREC, and the Office of Communications, Interpretation and Education. We look forward to more of this type of expanded partnerships in the future!
You can view the full new release – NJDEP| News Releases | Sherrill Administration Invites Public to Participate in National Trails Day Events This Saturday, June 6 (26/P028)
Access for All was a four-part series sharing practical strategies and case studies to improve accessibility and inclusion in outdoor recreation. Attendees were able to learn actionable approaches to expand participation, reduce barriers, and create more welcoming trails, parks, and programs for all.
These recordings are available if you were not able to attend live. Society of Outdoor Professionals webinar recordings are available to all for the first six months before they become a member-only resource. The recording access also has presentations, other resources, as well as how to earn continuing education credits.
Check the link for resources – Webinar Recordings
In this holiday season while we all are sitting snug by the fire strategizing for next year’s projects, I wanted to share this resource produced by American Trails. Foundations of Sustainable Trails: A Trail from Start to Finish (Online Training) – American Trails. This five-part online training discusses what it means for a trail to be sustainable. It describes the lifecycle of sustainable trails and includes lessons on hydrology, structures, tools, tread and alignment. These are all important concepts if you are seeking to make trail improvements for not only sustainability but also accessibility for visitors of varying abilities.