December 2016



Access Recreation [AR] is halfway through its projected completion date for the current 2016 Metro Nature in Neighborhoods grant.  The AR team is completing the web information on each park reviewed to date, that will be a part of the final 12 for the grant.


At this writing, seven of the 12 trails have been reviewed and put on the AccessTrails.org website. Two others have had preliminary reviews. One of these is the Tualatin River water trail which will be a fun “trail" to review in the spring.


The AccessTrails webpages have an upgraded look. They are more uniform in appearance. Improvements to the website include better information on the maps with locations of significant amenities along the trail route. The icons (blue circle for accessible: black square, if not), as before, indicate where you find different amenities along the trail. Now, more amenities have been included.  Other information useful for visitors has also been added. Another cool feature, if you click on the map it expands to a full-page, printable, PDF. Useful for taking on the trail.


Extensive promotion of the AccessTrails website to trail users will begin in January, even though all of the trails/parks have not been completed. The incomplete webpages will note this in order to reduce confusion. AccessTrails will be promoted to organizations that support people with disabilities in accessing services (and recreational pursuits!).



Image of river overlook at Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge
map of Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Image overlooking Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge Map

Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge

In this newsletter, AR’s first video for this grant is available for viewing. Five more to go! The process of choosing the parks for the final six videos is somewhat fluid. The video selection process begins after a few sites have been reviewed. The script needs to be written and approved before the video can be created. All this takes time.


By mid-October, we were ready to shoot video at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Fortunately, good weather lasted through November when a date could be secured to shoot. Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge will be next!


Our partnering agency, The Intertwine Alliance, has provided many opportunities for AR to promote its projects to interested agencies and organizations. These in turn have asked us to give presentations to their independent organizations.


The enthusiasm for this project is growing! Others are understanding the value of this approach to information sharing and want to be a part of it. When we promote it to more trail users, it will be exciting to see where this leads. As history has shown, the more people see this project, the more input is received to make it even greater.


I look forward to reviewing more incredible sites in the coming year. More places where people can know before they go, if a trail or park will meet their desired experience. We look for places that are as diverse as the experiences people are seeking. I hope you will look through the AccessTrails.org website and find some new favorite parks that you’ve never been to!


Happy New Year, everyone!!!


Georgena

Access Recreation Update

from Georgena Moran