With the warm weather and nice temps, it is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy some of the beautiful, accessible outdoor spaces that New Hampshire has to offer. These spaces are mobility device friendly, well maintained, and are truly built out to be a welcoming and fun space for all. Let’s dive into some of these spots shall we?
Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, which spans the New Hampshire and Maine border, is a gorgeous refuge, boasting over 200 different species of birds featured there. Critters such as otters, muskrats, Bald Eagles and more are known to frequent the area, and thanks to the marshlands and wetlands present, there is a robust population of waterfowl, making for some enjoyable nature encounters for the animal lover in your family. The Magalloway River Trail is specifically a good place to see moose, waterfowl, and more, is wheelchair accessible, and is an easy walk or ride to a neat observation platform that overlooks the river. The website to check this spot out is here.
Located in Manchester, there is the All Persons Trail at Cedar Swamp, lovingly curated by the team at The Nature Conservancy. It is filled with lush rhododendron, ferns, and a peaceful escape from the city while still being in the environs of Manchester, a true hidden gem if you will! With 1.8 miles of total trail, including the All Persons Trail, it comes with inclusive, informational signage, an ADA-compliant portable restroom, and an audio tour in both Spanish and English, making this a fun multilingual outing. A fun fact of this spot, some of the trees are over 450 years old. Personally I have been out running here before and am always stunned at the tranquil and solitary feel of this setting, definitely one you will want to check out. Read up on it here.
Another great spot to check out is the All Persons Trail, located in Concord, New Hampshire at the New Hampshire Audubon Society. The hustle and bustle of the world melts away as you are enveloped in the beautiful diversity of flowers and pollinators that surround you, allowing you to connect to this special ecosystem. You’ve parked at the McLane Center and were able to reach this special place in just a few minutes using a wide path designed to accommodate people using all sorts of assistive technologies to improve mobility. In the meadow, you read interpretive signage that informs you of some of the common species of plants and insects that are around you. The link to check out this great spot is here.
So why are these spaces important? As fifth-grader Bodhi, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, puts it, “Accessibility doesn’t just mean that people with disabilities can do it,” Bodhi said. “Accessibility means that people with disabilities can do it very similarly, the same way as able-bodied people.” If we are not intentionally crafting these spaces to be open and usable by ALL, then we are not only robbing people of opportunities that others have to enjoy nature and the great outdoors, but we are also robbing our beautiful home state of being enjoyed and loved by as many people as possible, and as a lifelong Granite Stater (so far), that won’t fly on my watch. Let’s all come together to ensure our home is open and loved by all!
Blake Tyler, a lifelong (so far) Manchester NH native and proud Central High School grad is the Social Media Specialist at the New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities, located in Concord NH.
The New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities is a federally funded State agency that exists to support policies and initiatives that remove barriers and promote opportunities in all areas of life. We are not a direct service provider. The purpose of State Councils is to engage in advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change activities. You may check us out here!