Earlier this month, the Macoskey Center opened their fully ADA-accessible boardwalk on the Bluebird Trail for public access.
Made possible by a grant from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development, in addition to another green grant funded by the University of Slippery Rock, the boardwalk complies with the USDA Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines and meets ADA-standards.
To comply with these standards, the boardwalk and trail leading up to it will feature minimal rising slope (total incline proceeding up the trail) and cross slope (incline or decline on width of the trail). The trail also will be obstacle-free with firm walking ground. On the path, multiple passing and resting zones are present.
The boardwalk follows a beautiful treeline, broken up by a dense wetland, a beautiful location to observe numerous native birds in the right season. Sami Bortz, director of the Macoskey Center, included in an interview that she is planning to have more birds be recognized in the wetland area.
Bortz and the Macoskey Center have been conceptualizing this project for quite some time.
“[I]f you can believe it or not, we initially dreamed this up as grad assistants in 2018” Bortz said.
While the boardwalk is open and accessible, contractors are fixing several pain points, most of these relating to slope.
“Slope is so important to accessibility, especially if you want it to be wheelchair accessible. It’s been a learning curve for me too,” Bortz said. “I have had to talk to a lot of people and reach out in different ways, but of course we have Slippery Rock’s own engineer and acting project manager and a great contracting team.”
Other revision plans incude offering more passing zones, which are small landings that allow wheelchairs to pull off to the side.
Bortz aims to add more handicapped parking and create easier access to the outside classroom areas.
“It wasn’t initially ADA-accessibly envisioned…but as the project progressed I realized that with all this time and energy, and without next door neighbors at the Equestrian Center and so many other programs that work with people with disabilities…it just made sense,” Bortz said.
Bortz and the Macoskey Center take aim at setting a standard. Bortz elaborates on this, explaining how a key aspect of environmental justice and environmental education is “who is all invited.”
“What’s so interesting is that, for the larger North American Association of Environmental Education, we set the standard internationally for EE,” Bortz said. “If only able-bodied people [have access] we aren’t completing our full mission’s vision.”
While the priority is ADA accessibility, Bortz invites everyone to enjoy the boardwalk. It gives students an easy walk that can keep their shoes dry.
Bortz also explains how it provides an ideal location for ecology, biology and wildlife classes, offering a convenient pathway that leads to the outdoor class area, accessible to all.
Bortz and the Macoskey center invite the community to enjoy the trail and boardwalk.
