Improving Accessibility on South Hero’s Trails and Outdoor Spaces
Approximately 1 in 4 people in the US live with disabilities* and historically, many outdoor spaces haven’t been designed to include them. Over the past few years, SHLT has been focusing on this injustice: it’s one of the main drivers behind projects like our inclusive paddles, the rebuilding of the wheelchair accessible boardwalk at the South Hero Rec Park, and design plans for the Islandacres Trail, our main trail project.
We’ve also been working with an Outdoor Accessibility Advisory Council, made up of people living with disabilities, their caretakers, and disability advocates. With the help of a student intern from UVM’s Disabled Students Union, we did an accessibility audit on many of the trails and outdoor spaces in South Hero. The Advisory Council reviewed the results of this audit and identified accessibility improvement projects. Some are straightforward - like adding benches at trailheads - and others are more complex. We are currently prioritizing the list of accessibility projects to be undertaken over the next few years.
We’re also designing a new trail - the Islandacres Trail - to include accessibility features from the start.
An Inclusive Paddle from Sandbar State Park, in partnership with Northeast Disabled Athletics Association and North Branch Nature Center
Completing the 450’ wheelchair accessible boardwalk at the South Hero Rec Park