Pinnacle Mountain State Park is taking a major step toward inclusivity by introducing all-terrain Trackchairs. These wheelchairs allow visitors with mobility challenges to explore the park’s trails like never before. This marks the second Arkansas State Park to offer Trackchairs, following their debut at Logoly State Park in November 2024. The Lichen Link Trail, which goes between the visitor center on Highway 300 and the Little Maumelle boat ramp, has been rebuilt to accommodate the Trackchairs. A wide-paved sidewalk can return users to the visitor center for approximately a one-mile loop.
Shea Lewis, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, emphasized the importance of accessibility in outdoor recreation. “One of the goals we set was trying to find a way to improve accessibility to our facilities that we build, as well as our trails, programs, and offerings across our state park system,” Lewis said.
Expanding accessibility within Arkansas State Parks has been in the works for years. Lewis, along with Jeff King, Deputy Director of Arkansas State Parks, identified this as a priority and began exploring ways to implement solutions. “Jeff’s background was in our planning and development section, and we started looking at opportunities to improve accessibility across the Arkansas State Park system,” Lewis explained.
Momentum for this initiative grew when Amanda Desert, founder of the nonprofit Accessibility Across Arkansas, reached out to discuss similar goals. Additionally, Arkansas Representative Julie Mayberry was working on legislative efforts to support accessibility improvements in state parks. These combined efforts led to the formation of an Accessibility Working Group, which includes experts like Dave Roberts from Crafton Tull, a firm specializing in planning and design.
With Trackchairs already in use at Logoly State Park, visitors have experienced firsthand the impact of these devices. “I know Corbin Merriott, Superintendent of Logoly State Park, was just telling me that he’s had some visitors using the Trackchair already,” Lewis shared. (November 2024 Article on Logoly Trackchair)
At the launch event at Pinnacle Mountain State Park, guests had the opportunity to see the Trackchair in action. Demonstrations were provided by visitors, including Presley Tolliver, along with Peyton and Robin, as well as longtime friend of Arkansas State Parks, Danny Barger.
“We do know that this is just part two,” Lewis stated, adding that the program will continue to expand. The next location slated to receive a Trackchair is Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area in Northwest Arkansas, ensuring that more visitors across the state will have access to Arkansas’s incredible outdoor spaces.
The introduction of Trackchairs is only one part of making Arkansas State Parks more accessible—the trails themselves also require modifications. According to Shea Lewis, the trail at Pinnacle Mountain State Park had to be widened to accommodate the chairs and ensure a safer experience for users. At Logoly State Park, additional adjustments were necessary, including reinforcing bridges to support the Trackchairs, which each weigh over 500 pounds. These improvements are essential to creating a truly inclusive outdoor experience for all visitors.
The introduction of Trackchairs represents a commitment to making state parks more welcoming and accessible for all. With continued support and collaboration, Arkansas State Parks is leading the way in ensuring that everyone can experience the beauty of the Natural State’s outdoor treasures. Reservations can be made at the Accessibility Across Arkansas website.
For more information about accessibility initiatives in Arkansas State Parks, visit ArkansasStateParks.com.
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One Response
I’m interested in learning more about your track chairs. I am a 60 year old spina bifida male and have lived in Arkansas all my life and I’m always looking for places to visit that are handicapped friendly.