In an effort to make Michigan state parks more accessible, three additional parks will receive all-terrain wheelchairs this summer.
According to a report by Bridge Michigan, Wilderness State Park in Emmet County, Warren Dunes in Berrien County, and North Higgins Lake in Crawford County will join 11 other state parks that already offer these specialized chairs to visitors with mobility challenges.
The all-terrain wheelchairs, also known as track chairs, can navigate through water up to 8 inches deep and traverse sand and other uneven terrain, making them ideal for park exploration.
According to Action Trackchair, a Minnesota-based manufacturer, track chairs typically cost between $15,000 and $20,000. Most chairs have been donated or purchased through fundraising efforts for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources parks and recreation department.
Kali’s Cure for Paralysis Foundation, founded in 2008 to fund spinal cord research, donated the first five track chairs to the park system in 2016.
“The parks were not only the best way to reach the largest number of people, but also make them accessible to people who might never have had a chance to experience the outdoors or even enjoy an afternoon at the park with their family,” said Kali Pung, co-founder of Kali’s Cure.
The ease of using these chairs is evident in Island Lake Recreation Area, which received a donated track chair in 2019.
“We hope it allows people to more actively experience our great park. The chair has been consistently used since we donated it, and those who have used it rave about the experience,” said Tony Pitts, who led the donation effort on behalf of Friends of Island Lake.
These track chairs enable more people to experience the beauty of Michigan’s parks. “We just want everyone, whether you’re visiting or living here, injured, older, or younger, we want everyone to enjoy the outdoors,” said Marianne Hunderman, executive director of Lori’s Voice, a nonprofit organization that donated a chair to Grand Haven State Park in 2021.
One of the major challenges in providing these chairs in parks is the high cost. “We’d love to donate another chair, though raising $15k is a bit of a challenge for our small-but-mighty organization,” said Pitts.
Nevertheless, the addition of three new chairs this summer will help visitors at Wilderness State Park, Warren Dunes, and North Higgins Lake enjoy the parks alongside their families or independently.
The outdoor recreation industry plays a significant role in Michigan’s economy, generating billions of dollars in consumer spending and supporting thousands of jobs.
By enhancing the accessibility of state parks through the addition of all-terrain wheelchairs, Michigan is expanding opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in the outdoor recreation industry, ultimately benefiting both citizens and the economy.
Furthermore, this accessibility initiative aligns with the growing trend within the outdoor recreation industry to promote inclusivity and create more opportunities for people of all abilities to enjoy the outdoors.
Michigan demonstrates its commitment to making outdoor experiences accessible to everyone by adopting track chairs in more state parks, which enhances the state’s appeal to visitors and residents alike.