News Archives - Page 8 of 12 - Nature: Accessible for All

Join the Eastcoast Greenway in a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create safer, more connected infrastructure for the Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey region.

With the Delaware River Bridge connecting Florence, New Jersey, and Bristol, Pennsylvania, being replaced, they are calling for the new bridge to include a much-needed shared use path to allow active transportation access across the bridge. Getting from Bristol to Florence without a car currently requires a 26-mile detour–with the shared-use path, that would be cut to just two miles.

Led by their partners Freewalkers, a group will rally and march in Bristol on Saturday, May 2 for the shared use path. Join for a rally and two mile advocacy walk in Bristol, or go the distance and make the 26-mile trek highlighting the gap in access created by the lack of a shared use path. There will be options to return via transit along the way.

Length options: Two miles or 26-miles, with options to customize by returning on transit.

Hello Access Nature Community,

Excited to share the launch of a new pilot program designed especially for teens in our community — Unstoppable.

Unstoppable is a peer-based program for teens ages 13–20 with Spina Bifida and similar disabilities that is being managed by the Spina Bifida Resource Network. The program is designed to create a welcoming and supportive space where teens can connect with one another, build confidence, strengthen self-advocacy skills, and explore greater independence — all while having fun.
Through group activities and conversations, participants will have opportunities to:

Connect with other teens who share similar experiences
Build friendships and peer support
Develop confidence and independence
Strengthen emotional well-being
Try new activities in a safe, judgment-free environment
Our first gathering will take place:

Registration is required. A parent or guardian must complete the registration form.
If you have a teen who might enjoy connecting with peers and building new skills, we encourage you to register early as space for this pilot program may be limited.

Please click here to download the event flyer for full program details and registration information.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact SBRN at info@thesbrn.org or 908-782-7475, or reach out to Andrea Bachmann-Brady, Program Leader, at 570-234-6957 or onecrazygreek1970@yahoo.com

Disability Rights NJ has released a public notice for a Public Input Survey. The purpose of this survey is to gather information and opinions that will help the organization’s leadership to determine 2027 priorities, goals, and objectives for the protection and advocacy of individuals with disabilities.

The results of this survey are meaningful in order to collect feedback from a wide range of people about disability issues, and this valuable input helps them make decisions about the work they will conduct.

Who they want to hear from:

• People with disabilities
• Family and friends of individuals with disabilities
• Stakeholders and advocates
• State agency representatives
• Court, criminal justice, and law enforcement personnel
• Disability service providers, caregivers, and support personnel
Other individuals and agencies involved in disability advocacy and service provision

Surveys will be accepted until June 2, 2026.

On average, the survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete.

You can download a PDF version – Survey PDF and send it to their office at 210 South Broad Street, Third Floor, Trenton NJ 08608.

Congress is currently debating an updated Farm Bill, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy is asking land preservation advocates to contact their Members of Congress to support passing this important legislation.

Updated every five years, the Farm Bill typically contains a range of rural development, conservation, and forestry programs that benefit the trail landscape and hiking experiences in the outdoors.

Learn more about how this legislation benefits the Trail and its landscape, and let your members of Congress know you support an updated bipartisan Farm Bill – Here.

Last year the Nature Accessible for All campaign had awarded several stipends to individuals and other Non-profits who were working on projects to promote inclusion and accessibility in natural areas for those with disabilities.

One awardee is the Raritan Headwaters, which was seeking to complete an accessibility project to construct a 400-foot boardwalk connecting a parking lot to a dock overlooking the property’s beautiful pond, making it accessible for people in wheelchairs. It is with great honoree that we were able to provide assistance to such a wonderful project and make this space more accessible to the community.

You can read the full article from the Raritan Headwaters on there accessibility project – Here

Thank you!

More great news for those advocating for more accessible trails and green spaces for passive recreation. U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver introduced the Parks to People Active Transportation Act, a bill which would dramatically expand federal funding for greenway path projects.

Greenway paths help connect communities to natural spaces and parks, and the bill would specifically work to create equity in access to recreation and the outdoors.

You can view the main story – HERE