Accessible Parks & Trails

Our goal:  Parks & Trails New York's goal is to increase the accessibility of New York's outdoor trails for people with physical limitations that affect the quality of their recreational experience.

The challenge: More than 1,200 miles of multi-use trails exist throughout New York State, yet there is little information on trail characteristics that can be used by persons with disabilities to help them decide if a trail would be suitable for them.  Without knowing whether a trail will be able to accommodate their needs, persons with disabilities are reluctant to use New York’s trails and thus cannot enjoy the health, recreational, and alternative transportation benefits that they can provide. Other trails could also become accessible if only trail managers knew what improvements were needed.

As a result:  In 2006, Parks & Trails New York launched its Accessible Parks & Trails program to train trail managers and advocates in the Universal Trail Assessment Process (UTAP). 

UTAP:  UTAP was developed through a national cooperative effort, involving federal and state land agencies and organizations advocating for persons with disabilities.  UTAP provides standardized, objective information on major trail conditions that affect access -- grade, cross slope, surface type, obstacles, and trail width --- so that everye can decide for themselves whether a trail meets their interests and abilities.  The Federal Highway Administration, NYS Department of Health, and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation all endorse UTAP.

With no individuals trained in UTAP in New York outside of twelve state agency personnel, Parks & Trails New York decided to build a group of persons who were formally trained in UTAP.  These individuals would then be able to work with volunteers to generate accessibility-related trail condition information for New York’s trails that could be added to Parks & Trails New York’s Trail Finder Maps and used by trail managers to create on-site accessibility signage as well as discover areas where trail improvements could be made to increase accessibility or address unsafe conditions.  Three trainings were held between 2006 and 2008.

Ultimately, Parks & Trails New York would like to make trail accessibility information available on trailhead signage, websites, maps or trail guides for trails throughout New York.  Presently, information is available for a limited number of trails listed in Trail Finder Maps.

29 Elk Street * Albany, NY 12207 * (ph) 518-434-1583 * (fax) 518-427-0067 * ptny@ptny.org