Over the last few years, more and more places have become increasingly accessible for those with different communication styles and mobility issues. My mom has been using a walker or a wheelchair since she had a stroke last year, and she absolutely loves the outdoors. Taking her out places to be out in nature brings so much joy to her, but her mobility needs add a whole new layer of planning to any outing. I have to make sure there aren't any stairs where we're going and that there are paved pathways she can safely explore. For those looking to explore state parks in Kansas, things are about to get a whole lot easier at Tuttle Creek State Park in Manhattan, KS. The park recently announced that a grant has been received that will make the park considerably more accessible for all nature lovers.
Tuttle Creek State Park is made up of five units spanning 1,200 acres. It's one of the largest and most popular of the 28 state parks in Kansas.
From hiking to fishing to swimming to archery, there's a lot to enjoy here.
This is a beautiful place, with tons of recreational opportunities.
Decide you just can't leave? There are cabins available for rent and also tent and RV sites.
But for many with mobility difficulties, exploring the outdoors can be difficult.
Even when places have paved trails, most wheelchairs aren't able to traverse uneven or sandy terrain, making them virtually useless if you want to do any exploring.
Kansas State Parks recently announced that a grant has been received from the Ford Bronco Wild Fund for a TrackMaster Series 2 track chair. This will make it quite a bit easier for those with mobility issues to explore Tuttle Creek State Park.
The track chair is an all-terrain vehicle that allows users to explore sandy beaches or hilly areas that traditional wheelchairs couldn't access. It will be available for rent to Tuttle Creek State Park visitors.
This is such wonderful news for everyone looking to explore Tuttle Creek State Park, and hopefully the first of other opportunities to make Kansas state parks more accessible.
To learn more about the grant for Tuttle Creek State Park, check out the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks article. You can learn more about the park itself from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks site, too. If you'd like to check out some of the great trails at the park, check out Alltrails.
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