All-terrain wheelchair improves trail access at Lake Forest Open Lands

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this blog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Land Trust Alliance, its staff, its board of directors or any other individuals associated with the organization.

The mission of Lake Forest Open Lands Association states that the organization is devoted to ensuring that all generations are welcome and able to fully experience nature. One of the ways the organization is actively accomplishing both goals is with the recent purchase of an all-terrain wheelchair.

Sourced through Action Trackchair of Wisconsin, this electric vehicle rides smoothly over the beautiful trails at Mellody Farm Nature Preserve and is available for use by the public.

“I am so grateful to our generous supporters, identifying the need this chair fulfills for so many Chicago area residents,” said Julia Lunn, Lake Forest’s director of engagement. “Our goal at Lake Forest Open Lands is to make the natural world more inviting to a broader swath of our community through our newly accessible preserve trails. The joy on people’s faces, both chair users and accompanying family members, when they return from a hike is radiant.”

Housed at Mellody Farm Nature Preserve, the chair is available for use by reservation free of charge (a refundable deposit is taken at the time of reservation). The preserve offers more than 3 miles of trail, traversing prairie, woodland and savannah.

The wheelchair made its debut in the Lake Forest Day parade in August. Local veteran Gilman Clark rode the chair in the parade.

“It was a unique experience to drive the chair in the parade,” said Clark. “It was so easy to maneuver with the joystick control.”

Clark served in the Army and the Army Reserve for more than 34 years. His dedication to country and community shines through when you talk with him. For Clark, it was fabulous to be back in the parade lineup. He had been an organizer of the parade for years keeping the floats in proper order and all things running smoothly. At 91, his active organizing for the parade slowed down a bit, but riding the chair in the parade put him right back in the middle of the action.

“I got to be at street level, so close to the parade viewers, and right in front of a float throwing candy to the kids,” Clark said. “It was an absolute blast.”

Barb Storey and family visited from as far away as Dallas to hike the preserve and utilize the all-terrain wheelchair, with grandkids and grandparents all together on the trail. What a joy to see the smiles on their faces.

“Our family loved the hike in the Mellody Farm prairie,” Storey said. “Running on the wide and well-groomed paths, seeing frogs and deer, was quite an adventure for the kids, and all of us enjoyed the natural beauty all around us. Thank you for providing the pleasure of a ‘walk’ in nature for my husband, who is no longer ambulatory, on the all-terrain wheelchair. It is truly a gift to our community and Lake Forest Open Lands is a treasure.”

A recent Rutgers University study shows that the benefits of the natural world are especially important for those with disabilities. The study states:

While there is a positive correlation between observed mental health benefits and time spent outdoors and in nature in the general population, there is increasing evidence that individuals with disabilities may gain even greater benefits. People with mobility disabilities, for example, can gain mental health benefits from different kinds of nature contact, ranging from passive to active involvement.

Another user of the chair remarked how meaningful it was to be in solitude in nature once again, having lost the use of her legs in an accident as a teenager three decades prior. The opportunity to be immersed in the natural world without an attendant was powerful. Time in nature can offer solace, relaxation, peace and clarity.

The Rutgers study continues:

Individuals with developmental disabilities have also reported experiencing diverse benefits from outdoor recreation, including satisfaction, mental reprieve, empowerment, enlightenment, social connectedness and thrill.

“We know the physical and emotional benefits the natural world can offer people of all ages and abilities,” Lunn said. “The all-terrain wheelchair is making those benefits accessible to more and more people right here in Lake County. This is just such a phenomenal resource for people of all ages.”