DNR Adds Trackchairs to 13 State Parks

(KNSI) – The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is expanding its all-terrain trackchair program after a successful pilot launch in 2022.

Last year, five state parks had the rugged wheelchairs. The adaptive mobility devices are now in an additional eight facilities. The chairs are battery-powered and the parks selected to this point have a charging station already built, along with a variety of trails that they can be used on.

The DNR says being outside in nature provides health and wellness benefits. By adding adaptive equipment, it allows for more people to enjoy the paths and get an experience they otherwise would not be able to have.

Commissioner Sarah Strommen says, “I’m thrilled that current efforts and future investments will allow more people to enjoy the outdoor spaces that make our state a great place to live, work, and play. These track chairs represent the type of investment DNR will make over the next several years thanks to historic legislative funding for our Get out MORE (Modernize Outdoor Recreation Experiences) initiative, which aims to ensure Minnesotans of all abilities and interests enjoy world-class outdoor experiences.”

There is no cost to use a trackchair but you must have a state park vehicle permit. To reserve one, just call ahead.

A list of the parks with the mobility devices includes Camden, Crow Wing, Lake Bemidji, Maplewood, and Myre-Big Island added in 2022. This year’s group involves Blue Mounds, Father Hennepin, Fort Snelling, Frontenac, Itasca, Lake Carlos, McCarthy Beach, and Split Rock Lighthouse state parks.

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