Trackchair Impact

Below are just a few examples of how Trackchairs have made Michigan State Parks some of the most accessible in the country.

1.There was a group from the Momentum Center in Grand Haven that came up during the winter to sled, ice skate, and hang around the bonfires. Momentum Center is an organization that works with adults with disabilities providing a community of support that will often take trips to various local places. One participant in the group (Katie) had difficulty walking long distances, but really wanted to sled. Since it would be nearly impossible for her to walk up our small sledding hill, we utilized the Action Trackchair to drive up the somewhat steep slope, that was covered in snow and ice, and it made it to the top with no problem. At the top, Katie was able to transfer into a sled with her friends and slide to the bottom of the hill. Our staff would drive the Trackchair back to the bottom so that she could climb into it and drive it back to the top for another ride. She had so much fun that I can't even tell you how many times we repeated the process, allowing her to sled for the first time in many years, with friends of hers that she would have just had to watch sled themselves from the "sidelines". The Trackchair truly allowed for inclusivity that day and I will never forget it.

 

2. Charlie and his family traveled from Cincinnati, Ohio to fly on our adaptive zip line. Charlie was born with a condition that required him to use a motorized wheelchair ever since birth. His motorized wheelchair was very expensive (probably around $20,000 - $30,000) however it wouldn't drive in sand or dirt. We were able to drive Charlie out to the zip line so that he could get harnessed and transport him to the top, but when his family wanted to go for a hike on our trail system he didn't think his chair would be able to make it. Our staff called the Muskegon State Park rangers who promptly brought us the Action Trackchair so that Charlie could join his family for a hike out to Lost Lake. By the end of the day, after zip lining, hiking, and doing archery, Charlie's mom shared how meaningful the experience was through tears of joy. 

 

3. Jeff works for Disability Network and has been a wheelchair user his entire life. He agreed to work with LaShelle at Visit Muskegon to do a photoshoot to promote accessibility in Muskegon County and used the Action Trackchair to drive up to the water. Jeff is a friend of mine, so I wanted to go along for the photoshoot to spend time with him and it was clear to me how excited he was about being able to drive through the soft Lake Michigan sand, all the way down to the water line. As someone that is able bodied, I take for granted my ability to get close to the water on Lake Michigan. I remember talking with Jeff about how different the sound of the waves were just from being in the parking lot a few hundred feet away from the water, to the sound of them when you're up close. 

 

4. The last story that I remember was from this past spring when I went out to the Park after hours to meet two ladies that were going for a hike on our lighted trail system. The ladies weren't able to get to the Park until after hours, so I agreed to meet them at about 6:00pm to go over the Action Trackchair, how it works, and provide them with a route for their hike. It wasn't until about 9:30 that night that I received the call that they were finished and headed home. I don't live very far away, so within a few minutes I was out to the Park to put the chair away when I ran into them as they were getting into their vehicle. I asked them how their hike was and during our short conversation found out that they had driven over 2 hours to use the Action Trackchair because they didn't know of any other locations close to them that had one and saw on our social media that we did. It was another moment that made me realize how lucky I am to not only live close to a Michigan State Park, but also work in partnership with a State Park that prioritizes accessibility and outdoor adventure for everyone. Muskegon Luge recently fundraised to purchase our own Action Trackchair so that we have two within Muskegon State Park for people that would like to use one. I am often told from families and individuals how special it is that our State Park offers such a valuable resource to allow everyone the opportunity to get outside, enjoy the beauty of the State Park system, and share special moments with friends and family that they are not always able to.