Cincinnati Parks: All people In Mt. Ethereal

Our friends at the Cincinnati Parks Foundation are excited to announce a new partnership with Luke5Adventures, Cincinnati Parks, and former Park Board Commissioner and Accessibility Advocate Kevin Flynn. The new free program called “Everybody in Mt. Airy” will enable people with disabilities to enjoy the benefits of outdoor activities more safely than ever before.

“I love Cincinnati and one of the great things about this city is our wonderful Cincinnati Parks system. However, it has been kind of limited since I was in a wheelchair. It is not easy to go down an unimproved path. So, this mission is the dream to make the parks accessible to all, “said Kevin Flynn, former commissioner for the Cincinnati Park Board.

The all-terrain wheelchairs, called “Rosies”, enable trained volunteers to move “hikers” of all abilities over rough paths, down stairs, over creek beds and much more. For many participants, these chairs will allow immersion in nature in a way that would otherwise not be possible. For some participants, this may be their first time on a dirt trail surrounded by forest.

“This program enables people with disabilities to see, touch and feel things in nature that were never available to them before. Our wish is to offer these opportunities to many more with this new partnership, ”said Kevin Schwieger, Founder and President of Luke5Adventures.

All walks last approximately an hour and start at Everybody’s Treehouse in Mountain airy forest. This tree house, a former Cincinnati Parks Foundation project, is universally accessible and allows everyone, regardless of skill level, to experience the forest canopy.

“On behalf of the Cincinnati Parks Foundation, we’re excited to bring Everybody at Mt. Airy to your Cincinnati parks with Luke5Adventures. Developing inclusive programs is an initiative that our Foundation is extremely passionate about. We are also former Park Board Commissioner Kevin. very grateful to Flynn for donating a new ‘Rosie’ chair to the Cincinnati Parks program, “said Jennifer Spieser, Executive Director of CPF.

Kara Kish, Director of Cincinnati Parks added, “We firmly believe that our Cincinnati parks should be enjoyed by everyone. We are incredibly proud to host this amazing program that creates experiences for children and families who may never have encountered nature in this way before. Our deepest thanks go to Luke5Adventures and the Cincinnati Parks Foundation for making this possible. “

Anyone with a disability and their family are welcome to participate in the program, which takes place once a month. The current hikes are planned for: May 8th, June 5th, July 17th, August 14th, September 11th and October 9th. Registration is required and places are limited. Interested parties can find out more about the program and register at: cincinnatiparksfoundation.org/programs/everybody-in-mt-airy/

This press release was prepared by Cincinnati parks. The views expressed here are your own.