Outdoor recreation plays a significant role in the quality of life that Michigan citizens enjoy. Before the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), relatively few recreation facilities and services were accessible to persons with disabilities.

The Department of Natural Resources has formed a new partnership with the Michigan-based Kellogg Foundation to explore making access to recreation even more accessible for persons with disabilities, taking facilities, services and amenities at state parks and recreation areas beyond the minimal ADA requirements. The foundation recently awarded the DNR a $3 million grant to help provide and develop universal access features at state parks and to provide greater opportunity for local communities to develop projects in local parks and recreational facilities.

"Providing universal access to parks and recreation areas and outdoor experiences that previously were not accessible is exciting," said Ron Olson, chief of the DNR's Parks and Recreation Division. "This new partnership will allow us to provide even more accessibility to Michigan's great outdoor gems in our state park and recreation system, and be a national driving force in development projects that showcase accessibility."

The grant funds will support projects that will incorporate universal access during the planning and construction process, so that the DNR may provide more opportunities to programs, services and amenities offered at state parks throughout Michigan. The DNR will use $1 million of the grant funds to enrich other grants the department administers, such as Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants, to help local communities build universal access into local recreation facilities and projects.

"Thanks to the Kellogg Foundation we have a great opportunity to enhance full access and utilization to outdoor recreation by our citizens and visitors with disabilities," said Kelly Grumelot, DNR ADA and accessibility coordinator. "Enriching the grant programs that support our community resource partnerships will promote universal access at the local level. This partnership in stewardship and access will provide an awesome legacy for the future of the state of Michigan."

"Universal access means more than just making a facility wheelchair-friendly," said Dan Lord, a development planner for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division.

"Often, ADA is associated with the symbol of a person in a wheelchair," Lord said. "But universal access goes beyond just mobility issues and associated features to incorporate technology, materials and design considerations that provide for all people in any case of a mobility, sight, hearing or mental disability."

The DNR has already done some work at state parks that highlight universal access features.

At the Bond Falls State Scenic Site in southern Ontonagon County, recent construction improvements include an accessible route from the parking area to various observation platforms, including a bridge to access both sides of the Ontonagon River as it tumbles over a thick belt of fractured rock to create a waterfall. Future improvements to the site will provide access to the top portion of the falls with minimal impact to the rocky and steep terrain.

At Palms Book State Park in Schoolcraft County, the main attraction for visitors is Kitch-iti-kipi, The Big Spring, the state's largest freshwater spring with more than 10,000 gallons a minute gushing from fissures in the underlying limestone. The flow continues throughout the year at a constant 45 degrees Fahrenheit. By means of a self-operated observation raft, visitors are guided to vantage points overlooking fascinating underwater features. Accessibility upgrades have been made to allow visitors unobstructed access from the parking area and onto the observation raft. The operational component of the raft was designed for ease of use.

Ludington State Park is one of the most popular state parks in Michigan, finishing each year in the top five for overall visitation. One of the popular features of this park is Hamlin Dam, the largest DNR-owned dam in the state. Hamlin Dam is a major attraction year-round, but in the spring and fall salmon, lake trout, steelhead and brown trout swim along and below the dam, providing excellent fishing opportunities. Recent access improvements include a cantilevered portion of the dam for access to both sides of the river that connects Hamlin Lake to Lake Michigan, accessible fishing piers and an elevated boardwalk trail system, connections to the adjacent boat launch site and river access. Visitors this summer to the park should be aware, though, that major repair and construction is planned at Hamlin Dam and parts of this attraction may be closed off during that time.

One of the most recently completed universal access projects is at the Lake of the Clouds at the Porcupine Mountains State Wilderness Park in the western Upper Peninsula. A new observation area was constructed at this scenic site that features an elevated boardwalk trail with resting benches, a new viewing deck overlooking Lake of the Clouds, lowered railing sections and audio interpretation of the informative signage. Prior to this upgrade, park visitors had to climb a steep slope on a dirt trail to view the lake and access for persons with disabilities was limited, if not impossible.

Visitor centers at Bay City State Recreation Area, Waterloo State Recreation Area, Hoffmaster State Park and the Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center offer year-round education and interpretation programming on a variety of topics such as trail hikes, bird watching, fishing and hunting clinics and artwork by touring cultural and natural resources artists. Many of these facilities have received upgrades since the enactment of ADA, including new standards for mobility as well as alternative formats for audio and visual interpretation.

More information on Michigan's state parks can be found on the DNR Web site.