Connecticut State Parks and Forests are a gift to CT residents all year round. But sometimes accessing these parks can be difficult for residents with certain disabilities. If you or a loved one struggles with navigating parks due to a disability, DEEP has some good news to give you hope!
During a Demo Day showcase at Dinosaur State Park in September, DEEP announced it would now be offering visitors the ability to reserve new all-terrain wheelchairs at five State Park and Forest locations for the remainder of the fall hiking season. These All-terrain wheelchairs can be used free of charge, with each location having two different models – one tracked chair and one wheeled chair. The designs of the wheelchairs allow them to navigate a wide range of terrain with ease, and they can be operated either by the user or secondarily through a caretaker.
The purchase of ten all-terrain wheelchairs was made possible by funding from the Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) approved by the Lamont Administration and State Legislature back in 2021. The choice to use this funding for wheelchairs proved wise as it garnered a positive reception from stakeholders present at the Demo Day showcase.
"This is an exciting step for Connecticut, and we are thrilled to provide this valuable service to the public. These all-terrain wheelchairs will provide people with disabilities or mobility disabilities the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty and recreational opportunities within our State Parks and Forests, which supports our goal of providing equitable access to the outdoors. We are thankful to our State Parks Division staff and partner organizations who have committed countless hours to support us in our commitment to making our parks accessible to all visitors."
Happy Trails!
While these ten wheelchairs will only be present in 5 of 142 state parks and forests, this is just the beginning of DEEP’s initiative. With this soft launch, DEEP will be gathering feedback from valuable users like you throughout the fall to plan out a full program launch in the spring of 2025, lasting for the entirety of the 2025 recreation season. So, for those who are interested, what are you waiting for? Reserve an all-terrain wheelchair for you or someone else on CTParks’ page here: All-Terrain Wheelchairs | Connecticut State Parks and Forests. Just remember that those who reserve a wheelchair will need to fill out a waver on the day of their reservation and make sure to follow all safety guidelines provided by DEEP.
Other stakeholders who came to show their support were the CT Department of Social Services, Summit Adaptive, and Gaylord Adaptive Sports.
“We are so pleased that DEEP has introduced all-terrain wheelchairs to several of Connecticut’s beautiful State Parks. This is a great commitment to ensure recreational spaces can be enjoyed by all.”
While these ten wheelchairs start with a distribution to 5 of 142 state parks and forests, this is just the beginning of DEEP’s initiative. With this soft launch, DEEP will be gathering feedback from valuable users like you throughout the fall to plan out a full program launch in the spring of 2025, lasting for the entirety of the 2025 recreation season. So, for those who are interested, what are you waiting for? Reserve an all-terrain wheelchair for you or someone else on CTParks’ page here: All-Terrain Wheelchairs | Connecticut State Parks and Forests. Just remember that those who reserve a wheelchair will need to fill out a waver on the day of their reservation and make sure to follow all safety guidelines provided by DEEP.
To learn about the five state parks and forests selected for this soft launch, as well as additional information on the program, read DEEP’s press release here at DEEP Soft Launching All-Terrain Wheelchairs at 5 CT State Parks Forests to Increase Access Outdoors.
For more information on access for people with disabilities in CT Parks, visit: Accessibility | Connecticut State Parks and Forests
