Universal Park Accessibility

Tennessee State Parks is engaged in an initiative to ensure universal accessibility for all Tennesseans are able to access and enjoy our state parks by removing barriers to access and providing tools and resources for all.

Park Accessibility

While the agency is working on transforming the built environment to overcome physical barriers, TSPC is focusing on acquiring the necessary equipment and tools needed to achieve the goal of universal accessibility. This includes funding:

This includes funding:

• All-terrain wheelchairs
• Accessible canoe/kayak/boat launches
• Boundless Playgrounds
• Adult changing tables
• Adding braille and hearing impaired devices in key park locations

The all-terrain wheel chairs will be free to the public and will allow children and adults to access trails that they have never been able to before. 42% of Tennesseans with disabilities have identified that participating in recreation is important to them.

This first phase will be to raise the funds to acquire:

•  2 Trail Assessment Tools
•  10 electric all-terrain wheelchairs for 10 state parks
•  10 Enclosed towing trailers

The chairs will be free to the public and will allow children and adults to access trails that they have never been able to before. 42% of Tennesseans with disabilities have identified that participating in recreation is important to them. The first 10 chairs will be shared among the state parks in each of the three regions.

Trail Assessment Tools:

The trail assessment tools will expedite the assessment process, enabling one individual to collect detailed and accurate trail and feature data at an average of one mile per hour. The assessment will help trail users know the challenges to trails, which would be appropriate for their skill level and the ones that can be accessed by all-terrain wheelchairs.

Our goal is to provide the wheelchairs to all 57 state parks. Help us reach this goal as well as providing water experiences for all.