Wheelchair accessible recreation spaces in Rockland County are limited and few! To advocate for more wheelchair accessible recreation spaces in Rockland County is to advocate for health and autonomy among individuals with disabilities.
Here are some of the facts:
- There are 28 parks in Rockland County comprising 3,100 acres, and about 70% of them have either limited or no available wheelchair accessibility.
- People who frequently take advantage of park activities have fewer doctors visits, lower body mass indexes, and lower systolic blood pressure than those who don’t.
- Outdoor recreation is also beneficial for mental health, and is known to regularly reduce depression.
- Recreation therapy researchers have found that the sense of freedom and autonomy inherently in freely chosen activity also creates positive emotion.
Our Vision: BRIDGES wishes to appeal to our local government and municipalities for changes in the development and availability of accessible recreation spaces for people with disabilities.
Other actions steps for more wheelchair accessible recreation spaces in Rockland include, but are not limited to:
- Recognize that more accessible recreation spaces means a greater well-being and autonomy for everyone.
- Advocate for integrated, accessible recreation spaces by collaborating with elected officials as well as business owners in the community.
BRIDGES acknowledges and supports efforts funded by the Hudson River Estuary grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, who in 2016 enabled the county to replace the docks at Harverstraw Bay Park with ones that are wheelchair accessible.
