If we make accessibility an up-front consideration that guides our planning & design efforts.

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1 Cindy Burkhour, MA, CTRS, CPRP Accessibility invites more trail users & their $$ to your community! If we make accessibility an up-front consideration that guides our planning & design efforts.

2 TWENTY PERCENT OF AMERICANS HAVE SOME TYPE OF DISABILITY CHARACTERISTIC THAT MAY AFFECT THEIR ABILITY TO USE YOUR LAND AND WATER TRAILS... IF YOU DON'T MAKE YOUR TRAILS AND THE SUPPORTING AMENITIES ACCESSIBLE YOU NOT ONLY MISS SERVING THAT 20%, BUT YOU MISS SERVING THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES AS WELL, AND THAT TRANSLATES INTO 35% - 50% OF YOUR POTENTIAL VISITORS WON'T COME TO HIKE OR PADDLE OR SPEND MONEY IN YOUR COMMUNITY... SO IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS $$$!

3 COMPLYING WITH THE MINIMUM ADA ACCESSIBILITY DESIGN GUIDELINES IS THE LAW, BUT UNDERSTAND. It s the worst you are allowed to do by law for accessibility It makes your design as hard to use as legally allowable by law Going above and beyond these minimums to embrace inclusive universally accessible designs is allowed and encouraged!

4 ALWAYS STRIVE FOR INCLUSIVE UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE DESIGN FOR ALL TYPES OF TRAILS Easier to use by everyone together All people of all abilities All ages All skills Independent use Safe Intuitive

5 Accessible route to the launch from parking Gentle slopes (under5%) Firm and stable seasonal and permanent surface GOOD INCLUSIVE UNIVERSAL DESIGN WATER TRAIL EXAMPLES Greilickville Midland

6 Good clear space for moving around on the dock and at transfer boarding bench

7 Frequently Asked Questions What is a Blueway? A blueway is a water path or trail that is developed with launch points, camping locations and points of interest for canoeists and kayakers. SIGNED IDENTIFIED ON MAPS & WEBSITES Where can I rent a canoe or kayak in St. Clair County? The St. Clair City Marina, located at 902 S. 2 nd Street, St. Clair, MI Rentals: Canoes/kayaks $10 per hour, $35 4 hours, $60 8 hours. Where are the Wheelchair accessible launches? There are four at this time. River Front Park off North River Road in Fort Gratiot Township, the City of St. Clair Marina, and the Marysville Boat Launch north of the water treatment plant, all offer ADA accessible kayak launches. The newest one is at Baker's Field Park in Port Huron Township.

8 INCLUSIVE UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE LAUNCH SYSTEM EZ-Launch by EZ-Dock is the only inclusive universal design on the market to date and is a good example that goes above and beyond minimum ADA design guidelines

9 ACCESS TO TRAILS WHY SHOULD WE DO IT?

10 ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY?

11 SO HOW DO WE CREATE INCLUSIVE AND UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE TRAILS for everyone?

12 WE CREATE ACCESSIBLE AND USER FRIENDLY DESIGNATED TRAILHEADS designated accessible parking accessible routes to amenities & trails information kiosks identifying trail accessibility features on signs & trail maps accessible single user restrooms water hydrants that are one hand operable with ample clear space & on an accessible route

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14 WE DESIGN TRAILS WITH INCLUSIVE & UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE TREAD WIDTHS Wide enough for side by side walking or passing so no one has to step off the trail into the bush to pass by Wide enough so encroaching vegetation doesn t grow into/over the trail tread between seasonal maintenance efforts Wide enough to accommodate trail tread maintenance equipment Wide enough so it s easy to turn around pushing a stroller or using a wheelchair

15 CLEAR TREAD WIDTH

16 WE MAKE TRAIL SURFACES UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE by making them firm and stable in all kinds of weather and over the course of the season Stabilized natural soils Crushed aggregate Board walk Asphalt Concrete EZ-Trail floating trail We can use surface treatments to direct human behavior and to better protect sensitive environments

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18 WELL DONE SURFACES

19 PROTECT USERS FROM PROTRUDING OBJECTS

20 REMOVE TRAIL TREAD OBSTACLES

21 REDUCE SLOPES Running slope less than 5% when ever possible Cross slope less than 2% when ever possible

22 PROVIDE THOUGHTFULLY POSITIONED RESTING INTERVALS Level and larger than the minimum size allowed 60 X 60 Located at the top and bottom of all steep sections and more often on longer sloped runs Positioned thoughtfully at beautiful turn outs and lovely viewing spots Add a bench for companions to sit and rest as well Located off the main trail tread so others may pass by

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24 PROVIDE EDGE PROTECTION WHEN NEEDED Use natural materials when possible Use to direct human behavior to protect sensitive environments

25 ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION ON SIGNS AND MAPS Length of the trail or trail segment Surface type Typical and minimum tread width Typical and maximum running slope Typical and maximum cross slope Benches & resting areas

26 TRAILS IN REVIEW Signed with access information firm and stable surface two people wide free of encroaching vegetation, tread obstacles, and openings Resting spaces Reasonable slopes

27 INCLUSIVE UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE SITE DESIGN AND AMENITIES All that are easier to use by everyone together!

28 SITE DESIGN & AMENITIES Accessible Restrooms Including a single-user/unisex family friendly design (so opposite sex care givers can assist & parents of little ones can too!)

29 SITE DESIGN & AMENITIES Accessible potable water located on an accessible route with accessible operating mechanism that is easily operated with one hand (and that doesn t require tight pinch grasp or twist motions or two hands to work), & may have a water bottle filler tap as well!

30 SITE DESIGN & AMENITIES universally accessible picnic tables (like the Spyder table by Wabash Valley) located on accessible route from the water landing or trail head and from the parking lot

31 SITE DESIGN & AMENITIES Accessible parking for cars (& boat trailers at water trail launches) located nearest the route to the waters edge or the trail head and the accessible routes to all the amenities

32 SITE DESIGN & AMENITIES ACCESSIBLE ROUTES WITH GENTLE SLOPES (AT LESS THAN 5% SLOPE) FROM PARKING TO ALL AMENITIES, TO THE TRAIL HEAD OR TO THE WATERS EDGE LAUNCH AREA

33 IN REVIEW A GOOD INCLUSIVE UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE HIKING TRAILS OR WATER TRAILS INCLUDES: Accessible parking for cars (& boat trailers located nearest the route to the waters edge) and the accessible routes to all the amenities Accessible restrooms including a single-user/unisex family friendly design (so opposite sex care givers can assist & parents of little ones can too!) Accessible potable water located on an accessible route with accessible operating mechanism that is easily operated with one hand (and that doesn t require tight pinch grasp or twist motions or two hand to work), & may have a water bottle filler tap as well, universally accessible picnic tables (like the Spider table by Wabash valley) located on accessible route from the water landing or trail head and from the parking lot accessible routes with Gentle slopes (at less than 5% slope) to all amenities Universally Accessible launch system (EZ-Launch by EZ-Dock is one example that goes above and beyond min ADA design guidelines) Accessibility feature information on kiosks, trail maps, web-sites

34 MAKING IT HAPPEN Engage the community in planning, including people with disabilities Connect all trail heads, via accessible route, to community assets Be welcoming in your images and your words Host events to draw people off the trail and into town Make it easy for your citizens to enjoy your trails Create trail stewardship opportunities reward trail users with discounts or community tokens (stickers, key fobs ) reward businesses that embrace trail visitors with recognition & free media Become a trail town!

35 QUESTIONS?? Cindy Burkhour, MA, CTRS, CPRP cell: