LOWER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Judith Kaminski would walk the trails at the Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary.
Her husband said it “saved her soul.”
“Our children, our grandchildren, have all been doing this, but [the Floodplain Trail] deteriorated – it was really dangerous for toddlers, for strollers, for the handicapped,” Kaminski said. “I would come down here and just walk, think, rest, take a deep breath – and then worry about somebody tripping on the rotting boards.
“The rest is history.”
For the first time in more than three decades, and at a cost of nearly $500,000, the sanctuary’s Boardwalk has been completely restored and made compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Officials from Wildlands Conservancy, which is headquartered at the sanctuary, and advocates gathered Thursday morning at the trailhead for a ribbon-cutting, officially opening the Boardwalk to residents and visitors.
Take a walk with me on the newly-restored, ADA-compliant boardwalk along the Floodplain Trail at Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary.@wildlandspa pic.twitter.com/CRHuxDjP9U
— Molly Bilinski, artisanal sentence crafter (@MollyBilinski) June 13, 2024
“Obviously, it’s a significant improvement to allow for access,” said Christopher Kocher, president of Wildlands. “We’re about access to nature – we want access for all. But, it also provides an opportunity to promote our natural resources, get people close to the natural environment.
The overarching goal is to provide a way for people to get out and experience the wonderful natural resources we have here at the Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, and make sure it’s accessible for all.Christopher Kocher, president of Wildlands Conservancy
“ … The overarching goal is to provide a way for people to get out and experience the wonderful natural resources we have here at the Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, and make sure it’s accessible for all.”
Trail accessibility in the Lehigh Valley
Trail accessibility has been hoisted into the spotlight in recent years, especially after state and local parks across the U.S. saw a crush of visitors during pandemic-related shutdowns.
As restrictions began to fall away, attendance trends dipped. However, officials and outdoor enthusiasts said it’s clear some residents have picked up a new appreciation for these spaces because of the pandemic, and continue to use them.
There have also been studies published on trail accessibility in the Lehigh Valley.
Last year, a report published by The Appalachian Mountain Club of the mid-Atlantic region focused on a section of the D&L Trail between trailheads at Hugh Moore Park and the Forks of the Delaware in Easton.
While researchers gave the trail a fair rating for its condition, the 68-page study included suggestions to make areas more welcoming, comfortable and accessible for all.
In the fall, the U.S. Access Board, an agency devoted to improving accessibility for people with disabilities, for the first time published guidelines under the ADA and the Architectural Barriers Act, or ABA, that include accessibility standards for shared use paths, like rail-trails or biking/walking paths.
“While the guidelines largely address accessibility needs for sidewalks and streets, crosswalks, curb ramps, pedestrian signals, on-street parking and other components of public right-of-way, they also provide guidelines for the technical feasibility, grade, cross-slope, surface and more related to shared use paths,” according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ 2023 Trails Report.
“Understanding these guidelines is important for anyone who plans, designs, constructs, maintains or manages shared use paths to become familiar with the new guidelines and how they impact the design and construction of your shared use paths.”
‘Accessible for all’
Work to restore the Boardwalk, which parallels the Little Lehigh Creek, started in 2019, but was paused due to the pandemic, officials said. The project included replacing deteriorating sections of the Boardwalk with ADA-compliant features, extending the trail to a new parking area and creating accessible amenities.
It was also an incredibly collaborative effort, with input from local technical institutes and volunteer groups. Community and corporate groups, as well as with individuals, logged more than 100 volunteer hours in the past year and half.
In addition to Kocher, speakers at the ribbon-cutting included Lorne Possinger, recreation and conservation manager for the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, local legislators and Ashley Patete, of the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living.
“We are so excited about the work Wildlands Conservancy is doing to make the outdoors more accessible for all,” said Ashley Patete, support coordinator of accessibility and technology related programs for the LVCIL. “There are so many places that are just gorgeous in the Lehigh Valley, and there are a large number of people, sadly, who are not able to experience and enjoy the outdoors with their friends and family.”
Even though the ADA was signed into law in 1990, federally protecting people with disabilities from discrimination, it’s still rare for organizations to prioritize accessibility, she said.
“We appreciate your efforts,” she said. “And look forward to continuing our partnership for years to come.”
Patete also read a statement from her predecessor, Bob Amelio, who worked on the Boardwalk project at its beginning.
“Thank you, Wildlands Conservancy, for making your wonderful Boardwalk more accessible to people with disabilities,” Patete read from the statement. “I’m so glad to see the recommendations LVCIL made a few years ago have come to fruition.
“Remember: If you build it, they will come. If you build it accessible, everyone will come.”
