Your UCP:
Sports & Leisure
Recreation & Leisure
Outdoor Trips
Taking a trip to the outdoors?
What to ask before you go.
One way to get exercise is to take advantage of the many parks across the country. There are National parks, State parks, and local parks; each with something different to offer. For example, the National Park System is comprised of 378 areas covering more than 83 million acres in 49 States, the District of Columbia, and all territories. These areas, combined with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Fish and Wildlife Services, Bureau of Land Management and all state parks provide more than 400 million acres to visit and enjoy. All of these sites have much to offer and are great places to discover the benefits of outdoor recreation.
In order to make your trip a truly enjoyable leisure experience it is important to gather some information. If you have access to the Internet, this can provide a good place to begin. For example, the National Park Service has an Internet page for each of its sites. Other agencies also provide this service including National forests, National wilderness areas, and State Parks.
QUESTIONS
The following questions are designed to help you in the planning of your next trip to one of the many public outdoor recreation areas.
- Visitation - When is an area the most and least crowded? What programs are being offered at various times of the year, month, and days you are planning to visit?
- Operating hours - Most parks are open year roun (except major holidays) but some areas within each park may have special hours.
- Climate - what is the recommended clothing for the time of the year you plan on visiting?
- Directions – Ask for directions to the park or other areas and to specific points within the park.
- Transportation – Find out about parking at camp sites visitor centers; inquire if there are shuttle services available.
- Fees, costs, rates – Because public lands are managed by so many different agencies always find out if there is a fee to enter. If you plan on using campgrounds or special services and concessions that are available, call and find out about those fees. Some of these areas require reservations up to months in advance.
- Facilities and opportunities - Many of the outdoor recreation areas managed by federal and state agencies have such amenities as visitors centers, trails, roads, special programs, lodging options, and activities that are specific to that facility. Find out which of these amenities is available and ask about the accessibility for each. Remember to use specific language in your questions if you want specific answers.
- Accessibility Information - The majority of the information is located at the visitors center. Some of the parks and recreation areas have Internet sites, which provide a good place to start. We would encourage you to call ahead and inquire about specifics at each location you plan on visiting.
- Other information - Inquire about recommended activities, reservations / permits special events programs, and adjacent visitor attractions.
- Does the park have tactile maps for blind or visually impaired visitors?
- Are listening systems or captioning available for hearing impaired or deaf visitors?
- Are facilities equipped with accessible restrooms for visitors with mobility impairments?
- Are interpretative programs available for people with your specific disability?
- Are sign language interpreters available?
- Are trails labeled to assist you in identifying which are most appropriate for you?
FOR MORE INFORMATION
WEB LINKS
USDA Forest Service
United States Army Corps of Engineers
National Center on Accessibility
OTHER PUBLICATIONS Roth, W., & Tompane, M., (1992) Easy Access to the National Parks: The Sierra Club guides for people with disabilities. Sierra Club Books, San Francisco CA.
More information on this and related topics may be available in the NCPAD Citation Database. Try searching with keywords:water,skiing, etc.
NOTE
The information provided here is offered as a service only. The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability, University of Illinois at Chicago, the National Center on Accessibility, and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago do not formally recommend or endorse the equipment listed. As with any products or services, consumers should investigate and determine on their own which equipment best fits their needs and budget.
Source: NCPAD