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The New York Outdoor Recreation Coalition and the Open Space Institute released a report on how the state needs to do more when it comes to making open spaces and parks more inclusive, equitable and accessible. This issue was part of our solutions reporting on how to make sure the Adirondack Park is welcoming for all people. You can see our series on solutions to visitor management here: https://www.
Leaders at the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation said they were grateful for the recommendations and will continue to work on them. You can read the report and story here.
Also last week we learned Nicole Hylton-Patterson has resigned from her position as director of the Adirondack Diversity Initiative. She is moving to NYC to work with a nonprofit that helps people with disabilities. The Adirondack North Country Association said it will be searching for a new director of ADI. Read more here.
Adirondack Explorer’s publisher Tracy Ormsbee was honored on Friday with a stewardship award from Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve. Most of the Explorer team was at the meeting, and we enjoyed the beautiful scenery at Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center and listened to lively discussion about policy and water issues we have been covering over these years. Also honored at the meeting were former DEC forest rangers Lou Curth and Scott van Laer. Van Laer is now the director of the VIC. It was great to see them, and so many others I have been emailing and calling over the pandemic.
Photo: The Adaptive Winter Sports Program is one of many programs the Double H Ranch in Lake Luzerne offers children with chronic illnesses or disabilities. Explorer file photo by Mike Lynch
This first appeared in Gwen’s weekly “Adirondack Report” newsletter. Click here to sign up.
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I’m sorry, but “make the Adk’s more “inclusive and equitable”? The park is open to all color , creeds, religions etc. please let’s STOP this “woke” nonsense! Sadly for some people, particularly those with an unfortunate physical disability (ie: say a person in a wheelchair) there are some places it’s simply impossible for them to access) That is an unfortunate and sad reality and areas that can be made accessible are a wonderful idea however implying that the mountains are somehow discriminatory is really getting ridiculous!
Well said!…this is getting so old.
I do a lot of camping and have never seen any disabled in even the resort campgrounds. We are due for a change since this situation is so old.
To KB, MD and LH and others who are confounded or frustrated with why NYS lacks accessibility and inclusion….(and let’s exclude mountains), after dealing with multiple politicians, agency heads, state agencies and local city/county governments for 2+ years to collaborate on making many state areas accessible and inclusive-Replies to my inquires and proposals include the following from our politicians and agency heads
-No money for “the Disabled and Crippled”
-They don’t provide the tax dollars
-We take care of our agency employees first
-My donors come first
-Just Go Elsewhere
-We’ve never done this before
-Do nothing without a TRP
I respectfully disagree with the Governor, politicians on both sides of the isle, NYS OGS, ORDA , NYSDEC and NYSPRHP agencies….. my personal dealings clearly point to an unstated but unified state position of indifference and lack of initiative to devote fulfilling energy and resources to those with disabilities enjoy our great(?) State?. To have such an imbedded regressive mindset in such a “progressive” state is disappointing-but sadly our reality.
Sure looks like you know what you are talking about.