China Camp State Park in California is undertaking a $2 million project to significantly improve accessibility for disabled visitors, expanding access to trails and amenities.
Led by volunteers with the Friends of China Camp nonprofit park operator and California State Parks, the projects at the bayside park in San Rafael aim to add another mile of accessible trail, new parking spaces, bathrooms, and a deck area that all comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
It’s a unique time in that there is an unprecedented amount of ADA work happening in China Camp State Park,” said Martin Lowenstein, executive director of Friends of China Camp.
“The community should be aware of the significant investment being made to create accessible facilities, including bathrooms, trails, and parking spaces,” Lowenstein added.
After about 1,000 hours of work by more than 30 volunteers with Friends of China Camp since November, a newly accessible 1.1-mile section of the Shoreline Trail is set to open to the public in the coming weeks.
The newly retreaded trail will run from Back Ranch Meadows Campground to the Miwok Meadows picnic area. This effort builds off a separate project in 2020, which retreaded a 0.7-mile loop on the Turtle Back Trail that runs along the marsh of San Pablo Bay.
“Many park visitors since then have thanked us for making a park trail available and accessible to them, whether it’s people in wheelchairs or parents or grandparents with strollers, people with canes,” Lowenstein said. “For any kind of mobility issues, people are able to use these trails now.”
The Shoreline Trail is expected to open to the public by the end of May. In the meantime, Lowenstein is asking visitors not to walk past the barriers and onto the trail before it is fully opened.
“People go around barriers and ignore the signs. All they’re doing is delaying the opening of the trail for everybody,” Lowenstein explained.
Simultaneously, California State Parks is working to complete a $1.6 million project to upgrade facilities in the China Camp village and campground areas.
The project includes upgrading three bathrooms at the Back Ranch Meadows Campground to meet ADA standards. A new accessible restroom, two handicap-accessible parking spaces, and an accessible deck are also being built at the China Camp village parking lot.
Eli Gelardin, chief executive officer of the nonprofit Marin Center for Independent Living, expressed his support for the projects.
“Our community is always here to help our civic partners use universal design so that public venues are enjoyable for seniors and people of cross-disability,” Gelardin wrote in a statement.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the project completed and hope that it provides access for people who encounter a variety of different barriers,” Gelardin added.
Outdoor recreation is a booming industry, with a growing focus on making parks, campgrounds, and trails more accessible to people with disabilities.
The improvements at China Camp State Park reflect a nationwide trend of enhancing inclusivity in outdoor recreation, ensuring that people of all abilities can enjoy the benefits of nature and stay active.
As more parks and facilities invest in accessibility, the outdoor recreation industry will continue to thrive, providing new opportunities for everyone to experience the great outdoors.