UNIVERSAL TRAIL ASSESSMENT (UTAP) TRAININGS

In keeping with the goal of increasing the accessibility of New York's outdoor trails for people with physical limitations, Parks & Trails New York has conducted three Universal Trail Assessment Coordinator Trainings between 2006 and at Gilbert Lake State Park in Laurens, NY.

Generous financial support from the Christopher Reeve Foundation; Laurence S. Rockefeller Fund; New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation; New York Community Trust; New York State Department of Health Disability and Health Program; New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Parks & Trails New York has offered trainings to almost 50 individuals.  Participants were selected through an application process. 

The trainings were conducted by two American Trails-certified UTAP Master Trainers, Patricia Longmuir of PEL Consulting in Ontario, Canada and Carole Fraser, Universal Access Program Coordinator for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).

UTAP trainings consist of both classroom instruction and outdoor trail sessions.  Generally, easier trails with some variation of conditions are used for training the first day.  More challenging trails and a greater variety of trail conditions are introduced on the second day.  At the end of the second day, a certification exam is given.  Participants who score 70% or higher can become certified by American Trails, a national nonprofit trails organization, once they complete a field assessment of one mile of trail. 

In return for receiving their training free of charge, they also agree to assess two additional miles of multi-use trail for Parks & Trails New York.  Parks & Trails New York helps each participant organize others to assist with these assessments.

CERTIFIED UTAP COORDINATORS

The following individuals have completed all the requirements and have been certified by American Trails, Inc. as Universal Trail Assessment Coordinators:

  • Karl Beard - National Parks Service, Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program
  • Sharon Bryant-Heyboer – NYS Department of Transportation
  • Howard Cornwall - Directions in Independent Living Inc.
  • Laura Lemire – New York State Department of Transportation
  • Frank Pennisi - Southern Tier Independence Center, Inc.
  • Kevin Prickett – Parks & Trails New York
  • Lynda Rummel – Finger Lakes Trail Conference, Friends of the Outlet, Yates County ARC
  • Irene Szabo - Finger Lakes Trail Conference, North Country National Scenic Trail
  • Matt Van Slyke – Herkimer-Oneida Counties Transportation Study
  • Mary Riley-Jacame – University of Albany Prevention Research Center
  • Stephen Chagnon, Southeast Adirondack Independent Living Center
  • Wes Lampman - Adirondack Mountain Club

Participant Experience and Impact of the Training
The UTAP training course has generated many benefits well beyond the trail accessibility information that will be made available on Parks & Trails New York 's Trail Finder Maps. That greater impact is best described in the words of some of the participants:

Irene Szabo, Finger Lakes Trail Conference, Mt. Morris , NY: “The State of New York has adopted an inclusive policy requiring that new trails or new segments of existing trail systems on public land be properly assessed before they may be opened for use. While this is a socially admirable policy, it has also created an administrative logjam in the attempt to process assessments with such a relatively small handful of state employees trained in the Universal Trail Assessment Process so far.

“Therefore, we welcomed this opportunity for trail advocacy volunteers to be certified as assessors, nearly doubling the state's “UTAP squad.” Now we will be able to open new trail segments to the public literally years sooner. In addition, the training has given us the capacity to offer the public some fairly accessible sections of the Finger Lakes Trail that are suitable for almost any mobility level or sensory capacity. We also plan to create a section on our website on accessibility.”

Frank Pennisi, Program Services Coordinator, ADA Consultant, Southern Tier Independence Center, Binghamton , NY: “I have been an avid hiker, camper and nature lover for my entire life. I have been working at an independent living center for people with disabilities for 23 years and have been doing accessibility consultations for almost 27 years. For me, the UTAP training was a dream come true – a chance to bring together two fields of interest that are dear to my heart.

“I know many people with disabilities who are willing to risk moderate accessible or even “difficult” trails with planned assistance. The problem has always been determining levels of accessibility. The UTAP process takes away the subjectivity and replaces it with factual, usable data. This training will help tremendously in my work, particularly after the ADA Guidelines for Outdoor Environments are finalized and more parks and recreation areas seek to provide access. I believe the UTAP process is key to providing greater access to the outdoors for people with disabilities and I fervently hope that more people can be trained to utilize the process.”

Lynda Rummel, Ph.D., Past President, Friends of the Outlet, Inc., Penn Yan , NY: “A couple of years ago, I found this recorded at our trail head register box: “My wheelchair did it! Whoopee!” This comment made me realize that persons using wheelchairs are already trying to use the trail, but in its current state the trail is often too arduous for most. It is my goal to find ways to make the Outlet Trail more accessible to the ARC members who picnic at the trail head and to all persons with disabilities. By learning UTAP, I can provide objective information about trail conditions for everyone and I am better equipped to shape construction and maintenance decisions towards increasing accessibility.”

Karl Beard, National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program, Hyde Park , NY: “I'm still high on that workshop. It was a success on all fronts. Right now, I'm negotiating with the Park to buy the equipment and software, in return for working with them to assess their trails, once certified. Thanks.”

Michael Hellman, Westchester Residential Opportunities/Westchester on the Move, Peekskill , NY: “ I have been involved with disability access issues for over 15 years, but cannot recall working with such a committed and community-spirited group. Your strong belief in the benefits of UTAP and your desire to open up trails to all persons enabled two days of intensive learning to be most enjoyable. Thank you for providing me with an invaluable experience and I look forward to our trail work ahead.”

UTAP Training Class Participants

2008 UTAP TRAINING CLASS

  • Stephen Chagnon, Southeast Adirondack Independent Living Center
  • Maryann Donaldson, Resource Center for Accessible Living, Inc.
  • Daniel Driscoll, Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy
  • Wally Elton, Parks & Trails New York
  • Martin Howden, NYSOPRHP, Hamlin Beach State Park
  • Mike, Krish, NYSOPRHP, Two Rivers/Newton Battlefield State Park
  • Paul Leuchner, Niagara River Greenway Commission & Town of Grand Island Committee for Conservation of Environment
  • Scott Lewendon, Clough Harbour & Associates
  • Faith Lustik, Jefferson County Public Health Servicer
  • Ion Meyer, NYS OPRHP, Grand Island
  • Tom Meyering, Town of Poughkeepsie Recreation Dept. & Wappingers Greenway Trail Committee
  • Chris More, NYSOPRHP, Saratoga Spa State Parks & Trails New York
  • Tracy Murphy, Options for Independence, Syracuse
  • Nicholas Piatek, Liberty Bike Trail
  • Kate Schmidt, Orange County Planning
  • Vicki Wilkins, SUNY Cortland Dept. of Recreation & NYS Inclusive Recreation Resource Center

2007 UTAP TRAINING CLASS

  • Beverly Allyn – Mid-Hudson Bicycle Club 2007 UTAP Group
  • Jim Arey – Elmira-Chemung Transportation Council
  • Jill Barra – Herkimer County Public Health
  • Victor Calise – City of New York Parks and Recreation
  • Joyce Carroll – Columbia Land Conservancy
  • Laura Conner – OPRHP, Saratoga/Capital District Region
  • Andrew Giarrizzo – OPRHP, Western District
  • Paul Hoffman – Finger Lakes Trail Conference, Triple Cities Hiking Club
  • Mary Riley-Jacame – University of Albany Prevention Research Center
  • Richard Schraven – Niagara Frontier Chapter ADK, Niagara Frontier Bicycle Club
  • Al Sosa – Oneonta-Susquehanna Greenway, SUNY Oneonta Physical Education/Outdoor Education Dept.
  • Wendy VanDerBogart – OPRHP, Central Region
  • Matt Van Slyke – Herkimer-Oneida Counties Transportation Study
  • Jan Wines – Croton on Hudson Trails Committee
  • Donald Wyckoff – Catskill Center for Independence
  • Martin Daley - Parks & Trails New York

2006 UTAP TRAINING CLASS

  • Edward Ahern - Suffolk Independent Living Organization
  • UTAP ParticipantsKarl Beard - National Parks Service, Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program
  • Sharon Bryant-Heyboer – NYS Department of Transportation
  • Howard Cornwall - Directions in Independent Living Inc.
  • Lauren Dennison - New York State Office of Real Property Services
  • Robin Ferri - Access to Independence of Cortland County
  • Frances Gotcsik - Parks & Trails New York
  • Michael Hellmann - Westchester Residential Opportunities, Westchester Disabled on the Move
  • Wes Lampman - Adirondack Mountain Club
  • Laura Lemire – New York State Department of Transportation
  • Joy Olson - Rural Health Network South Central NY, Triple Cities Hiking Club
  • Frank Pennisi - Southern Tier Independence Center, Inc.
  • Kevin Prickett – Parks & Trails New York
  • Andrew Rawdon - Compeer Inc., Crescent Trail Assoc., Monroe County. Regional Canalway Trail Group, Genesee Waterways Center
  • Lynda Rummel – Finger Lakes Trail Conference, Friends of the Outlet, Yates County ARC
  • Irene Szabo - Finger Lakes Trail Conference, North Country National Scenic Trail

 

  

 
           
 

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