Enjoying nature and all it has to offer should never be off limits to anyone. Sadly, there are those who face physical challenges that make it nearly impossible for them to wander freely down a forest trail or along a wooded coastline. One state park aims to change that, with the addition of a tool that will open up the world to the disabled. Staunton State Park in Colorado has made an all terrain wheelchair available for use by visitors who might otherwise never get to experience the park.
It began as a tribute to a fan. Local resident Mark Madsen was a frequent visitor to Staunton State Park, biking and fishing with friends and family throughout his life. That all changed overnight when Madsen was paralyzed in a car accident. Even this couldn’t keep Madsen away from his beloved park. He would borrow an all terrain wheelchair from a local hospital so he could continue his outdoor adventures despite his injuries.
When Madsen passed away in August of last year, his family wanted to honor his memory by supporting the place he loved most, and asked that donations be made to a local nonprofit group that provides financial aid to the park, Friends of Staunton. Soon they had raised more than $40,000 and hit upon the idea of using the money to purchase an all terrain chair that could be available for use by visitors to the park.
Located just under 100 miles west of Denver, Staunton State Park has numerous multi-use trails open to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. The park is dog friendly but does not allow overnight camping. It features many unique granite cliffs and rock formations, as well as grasslands, foothills, and streams.
Staunton debuted the all terrain wheelchair in October of this year. These rugged wheeled wonders have special track-style wheels that can handle off-road terrain and steep inclines, something a standard wheelchair can’t do. There are an estimated 10-15 miles of trails in the park now accessible to the handicapped thanks to the chair, and the battery can last for up to 10 hours, offering the opportunity for an all day adventure.
This all terrain wheelchair will be available to guests by reservation beginning in May of 2017. Wayne Parkinson, the director of Friends of Staunton, hopes that similar programs will be implemented in parks nationwide. The group has plans to purchase a second chair, as well as a lift to enable visitors to be moved into and out of the chair. It’s a legacy Mark Madsen would be proud of.
Featured Image from marianne bos/Unsplash
