Trails committee seeks to expand wheelchair-accessible routes after successful therapeutic-recreation hike

Committee members on Nov. 13 described a successful October hike hosted with Franklin Township Therapeutic Recreation and expressed interest in expanding accessible trail opportunities. Members said the Negri preserve’s initial path to the bird blind is wheelchair-accessible and encouraged staff to identify other routes that meet accessibility standards.

Tara told the committee that township records show "almost 30 miles of handicap accessible trails" across municipal properties—much of that mileage reflects the towpath and paved multiuse routes rather than unpaved nature trails. Members identified specific locations that are currently listed as accessible, including the DeMott Lane walking path, the Colonial Park main trail and sections at the Bunker Hill Environmental Center and Graber Woods. They also discussed surface materials and grade requirements for paths to qualify as accessible: pavement or compacted stone and limited slope are required, while grass or loose dirt does not generally meet the standard.

The committee agreed to explore smaller, phased improvements (for example, improving short sections to reach benches or viewing areas) and to set up a follow-up meeting with Therapeutic Recreation staff to schedule additional hikes and coordinate outreach.

Next steps: staff will confirm which trails meet accessibility standards, identify candidate segments for incremental improvements and convene a follow-up with Therapeutic Recreation to plan events.