Westchester program helping people with mobility difficulties enjoy outdoors
HARTSDALE, N.Y. (PIX11) — A New York organization is launching the new season of a program that allows those living with disabilities and other mobility issues to enjoy the outdoors with a specially designed chair that helps with navigating park trails.
Mike Owen traveled all the way from Connecticut to Hartsdale, New York, to kick off the second season of the "Trail Without Limits" program with the Westchester Parks Foundation.
The 38-year-old explored the enchanting trails of Ridge Road Park and enjoyed his newfound freedom to explore the park’s hiking trail despite living with a disability. Owen was diagnosed with spina bifida at birth.
“It basically just means the nerves were cut off at the bottom of my spine, so my legs never grew the nerve endings that tell your brain to walk,” Owen said.
Owen, who has been wheelchair-bound his whole life, explored the trail using a specialized chair equipped with tracks instead of wheels that allows for more durability on rough terrains.
“Having the chairs is a lot better now because you don’t have to watch other people do it and not be able to join in,” said Owen. “You can go out with them and be included.”
The initiative comes as a response to the long-standing challenges faced by those living with disabilities.
“You hear stories of people who onsite say this was my first time ever getting to hike with my family member or this is the first time ever getting to return back to the trail since my accident, and it’s a special experience to be a part of that,” Erin Cordiner of Westchester Parks Foundation said.
Right now, the nonprofit has two "Action Track" chairs, but as the program gains momentum, the Westchester Parks Foundation hopes to expand its program and offer additional chairs with the goal of serving more people in the community like Owen.
“It was a lot of fun,” Owen said. “I’m looking forward to doing it again.”
The program is free to anyone, including those living outside Westchester County. It will rotate throughout county parks from March until November. You can find more information about the program here.