More parks add all-terrain wheelchairs

MT. JULIET — Tennessee State Parks announced this week the availability of new all-terrain wheelchairs at 10 state parks, enhancing accessibility for visitors and bringing the total of parks with all-terrain wheelchairs to 22.

The new wheelchairs are the result of a collaboration with Sunrise Medical, which designs and manufactures the wheelchairs, and the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging.

The new all-terrain wheelchairs are available at Cedars of Lebanon, Cordell Hull Birthplace, David Crockett (in Middle Tennessee), Fall Creek Falls, Fort Pillow, Harrison Bay, Indian Mountain, Meeman-Shelby Forest, Nathan Bedford Forrest, and Sgt. Alvin C. York state parks.

“This is an important step for our parks, and we are eager to provide this service,” said Greer Tidwell, deputy commissioner for conservation at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. “We are grateful for the work of Sunrise Medical and our partnership with the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging. Tennessee State Parks are forever and for everyone.”

All-terrain wheelchairs are designed to navigate a wide range of terrains. They give visitors with limited mobility the opportunity to access and enjoy outdoor recreation that might otherwise be inaccessible. The chairs are free for visitor use and available for both children and adults. They can be operated independently and offer the option of allowing caretaker control.

“At Sunrise Medical, we understand that the world is not flat, and with our Magic Mobility power chairs, we believe that everyone, regardless of ability, should have the opportunity to explore Tennessee’s incredible state parks,” said Larry Jackson, president of Sunrise Medical North America. “We are thrilled to partner with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to make this vision a reality. We hope other states will follow Tennessee’s example and provide more opportunities for individuals with disabilities to explore the great outdoors.”

Other Tennessee state parks that have all-terrain wheelchairs are Booker T. Washington, Cove Lake, Cumberland Mountain, Cummins Falls, Chickasaw, Henry Horton, Long Hunter, Natchez Trace, Radnor Lake, Tims Ford, Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork and Warriors’ Path.

“All-terrain wheelchairs give people with disabilities and older adults opportunities to see the natural beauty within Tennessee State Parks that would otherwise be out of reach,” said Brad Turner, commissioner of the Department of Disability and Aging. “I want to thank Tennessee State Parks and Sunrise Medical for their partnership and unwavering commitment to making our parks accessible to all Tennesseans.”

It is possible to request an all-terrain wheelchair upon arrival at a park. However, because it may already be reserved for another guest, visitors are asked to give advance notice of the need for a wheelchair. TDEC is working to expand access to all-terrain wheelchairs in parks across the state.

Learn more about accessibility at Tennessee State Parks at https://tnstateparks.com/accessibility.