Georgia’s State Park system has been honored with the National Association of State Park Directors’ (NASPD) Innovation Award, recognizing the state’s efforts to enhance outdoor accessibility.
Georgia State Parks Director Angie Johnson accepted the award during the NASPD’s annual conference on September 12. This recognition highlights the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) commitment to making outdoor recreation more inclusive through its Outdoors Beyond Barriers initiative, which launched in March 2024.
The award celebrates practices that improve state parks‘ outdoor recreation. In Georgia, several key projects have been implemented to address accessibility challenges. Among these are all-terrain wheelchairs, accessible kayak launches, and fishing docks. Johnson expressed pride in the achievement, emphasizing the DNR’s mission to make nature accessible to everyone.
“I am honored to represent the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in accepting this recognition. We strive to make outdoor recreation accessible to every person, at all ability levels,” Johnson explained, as reported by WLAQ on September 16.
Outdoors Beyond Barriers represents a significant investment in improving recreational opportunities for individuals of all abilities. In 2024, more than $2.4 million was allocated to accessibility improvements across the state. This initiative has allowed advancements in hiking, paddling, fishing, and camping experiences.
Another aspect of this initiative is the partnership with the Aimee Copeland Foundation’s All Terrain Georgia, which provided specialized all-terrain wheelchairs to 20 state parks. These chairs are available for free and have already facilitated over 250 reservations since 2023. The NASPD’s Bronco Wild Fund grant will further enhance accessibility by adding GRIT chairs to additional parks next summer. These thinner wheelchairs allow users to navigate narrower trails.
Accessibility improvements extend beyond wheelchairs. At Jack Hill State Park in Reidsville, the state has introduced an accessible kayak launch, parking areas, and boat rental docks, offering people of all abilities the chance to enjoy paddling. Additionally, a new ADA-compliant picnic shelter has been completed at High Falls State Park in Jackson, and an accessible kayak launch has been installed at Hard Labor Creek State Park in Rutledge.