Press Release: Access 2 Parks Project Launches

In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. wheelchairtraveling.com will be visiting parks all over America to highlight how this law has improved access to the outdoors for those with limited mobility. Parks that are selected have the most accessibility but the least amount of information about access on their website. 

Our mission is to make it easier for people with limited mobility to plan a trip to parks that meet their accessibility needs and to help each park selected, to update their access information. To better serve visitors with accessibility needs we will document the length and grade of a trail, the trail surface, the locations of accessible restrooms, and much more. Such details address the basic needs and concerns of people with limited mobility thereby enabling them to make informed decisions about what parks to visit. Park evaluations are based on the access conditions that currently exist and are not a determination of compliance with any access regulations. Cooperation and support from the corresponding NPS representative to create a sustainable model is also a part of the mission.

Fifteen National Parks have been selected to catapult the “Access to Parks Project,” though more access reviews at national, state, and local parks will be included. In May 2015, wheelchairtraveling.com will embark on a two-week journey from Atlanta, GA to Cleveland, OH to visit, evaluate and promote access to three National Parks: Mammoth Caves, Shenandoah, and Cuyahoga Valley; some state parks are also planned for the route.

We are seeking support from sponsors and donations to cover the costs (transportation, accommodations, and food) to visit the parks for evaluation. Donations to this project are tax-deductible, which is made possible by wheelchairtraveling.com’s fiscal sponsor, Access Northern California.