{"id":14983,"date":"2020-11-24T10:56:34","date_gmt":"2020-11-24T15:56:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=14983"},"modified":"2020-11-25T08:09:15","modified_gmt":"2020-11-25T13:09:15","slug":"access-nature-through-these-ada-accessible-trails","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/access-nature-through-these-ada-accessible-trails\/","title":{"rendered":"Access Nature Through These ADA-Accessible Trails"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you, or someone you care about, has had trouble accessing scenic outdoor areas via traditional trails in the past, our ADA-Accessible All Persons Trails<\/a> may be your key to unlocking the great outdoors.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is an All Persons Trail? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What began in 2008 with the construction of a pilot \u201csensory trail\u201d at Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary<\/a> in Norfolk, has evolved into Mass Audubon\u2019s Accessible Interpretive Trails Project<\/a>, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The project has yielded the installation of 12 Americans With Disabilities (ADA)-accessible All Persons Trails throughout the state.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trails are typically 0.5-1 miles long and meander through some of Mass Audubon\u2019s most scenic wildlife-watching areas in the state. They’re designed to meet ADA compliance for trail width, slope, and surfacing, and are typically made of crushed gravel material, or wooden boardwalk, suitable for wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

All Persons Trails Features<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Post & Rope Guiding Systems: <\/strong>About half of our All Persons Trails have post and rope guiding systems that provide navigational support for visitors with low vision. Hanging from the guiding ropes along the trails, round beads are placed to indicate an interpretive stop marker is within an arm\u2019s reach. Square beads indicate seating is nearby, with specific directions explained in tour booklets or audio recordings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sensory-Supporting Features: <\/strong>You can take advantage of tactile maps, and interpretive booklets in regular print, large print, Braille, and audio formats. Audio tours, available on cellphone or audio players, provide sensory-rich interpretations of the sights, sounds, and nature found along your route.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stops Along the Way: <\/strong>If you need a break along your journey, or want to pause to soak in your surroundings, accessible wildlife observation structures, specialized gardens, seating, play areas, and picnic areas, can be found along your route.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Service-Animals:<\/strong> Service animals are, as always, welcome to accompany your visit. Due to the nature of our wildlife conservation mission, we ask that those bringing their service animal familiarize themselves with our service animal statement<\/a> prior to your visit.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find Your Trail <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With over 12 All Persons Trails throughout the state, you\u2019re sure to find something <\/a>close by. Whether it\u2019s strolling through the farmyard loop<\/a> at Drumlin Farm in Lincoln, by the Frog Pond<\/a> at Broad Meadow Brook in Worcester, or over the boardwalk<\/a> at Arcadia in Easthampton & Northampton, we hope to see you out on a trail soon! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Search All Persons Trails<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please note some sanctuaries require reservations<\/a> to visit at this time. <\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you, or someone you care about, has had trouble accessing scenic outdoor areas via traditional trails in the past, our ADA-Accessible All Persons Trails may be your key to unlocking the great outdoors.   What is an All Persons Trail?  What began in 2008 with the construction of a pilot \u201csensory trail\u201d at Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary in Norfolk, has evolved into Mass Audubon\u2019s Accessible Interpretive Trails Project, funded by the Institute […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":14984,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[6],"tags":[374,375,376,377,378],"class_list":["post-14983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","tag-accessibility","tag-ada","tag-all-persons-trail","tag-hiking","tag-trails"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/IMG_0306-720x480-451c0258-cc42-42f5-8462-d68789b22ff9.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-3TF","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14183,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-national-trails-day\/","url_meta":{"origin":14983,"position":0},"title":"Take 5: National Trails Day","author":"Ryan D.","date":"June 1, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"National Trails Day, the first Saturday in June, is a day to recognizes all the incredible benefits that hiking and walking trails provide for recreation and quality time spent in nature.\u00a0It's also an opportunity to thank the many volunteers, land agencies, trail developers, park employees, and property manages who build,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Walking the trails at Wellfleet Bay \u00a9 Amanda Simon","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/05\/1187AmandaSimon4130.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/05\/1187AmandaSimon4130.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/05\/1187AmandaSimon4130.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/05\/1187AmandaSimon4130.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7732,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/5-fun-facts-about-habitat-education-center\/","url_meta":{"origin":14983,"position":1},"title":"5 Fun Facts About Habitat Education Center","author":"Hillary T.","date":"June 7, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary in Belmont has a long and interesting history. 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Mass Audubon received 34% of all votes in REI\u2019s first-ever \u201cLoving Our Local Outdoors\u201d member vote grant in New England. The Award As a result, we will receive $15,500 to split between two projects. On the South Coast of Massachusetts, we will build new trails at Allens Pond\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Involved"","block_context":{"text":"Get Involved","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-involved\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"loving our local outdoors in partnership with REI","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/03\/Member_Participation_Instagram_Standard_Image750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/03\/Member_Participation_Instagram_Standard_Image750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/03\/Member_Participation_Instagram_Standard_Image750.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/03\/Member_Participation_Instagram_Standard_Image750.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16505,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-boardwalk-trails\/","url_meta":{"origin":14983,"position":3},"title":"Take 5: Boardwalk Trails","author":"Kelly R.","date":"November 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"We're shining a light on the joys of hiking all month long and encouraging everyone to join us outside for Hike-a-thon, November 26-28. To get ready, tune in online for Hiking 101 & Hiking 101 for Families, at a free guided hike the last weekend of November, or make your\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Outdoors"","block_context":{"text":"Get Outdoors","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-outdoors\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Wellfleet Bay","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/DSC_2665-750x500-925f61e0-4169-4df9-8110-5db5b471cd28.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/DSC_2665-750x500-925f61e0-4169-4df9-8110-5db5b471cd28.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/DSC_2665-750x500-925f61e0-4169-4df9-8110-5db5b471cd28.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/DSC_2665-750x500-925f61e0-4169-4df9-8110-5db5b471cd28.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15841,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/ways-to-volunteer-this-summer\/","url_meta":{"origin":14983,"position":4},"title":"Ways to Volunteer This Summer","author":"Hillary T.","date":"June 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Looking for a way to get out and give back? 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