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By Ivan Aronin | on August 30, 2023

Tennessee State Parks, the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy, and the Tennessee Valley Authority on Tuesday unveiled a new all-terrain wheelchair available at Radnor Lake State Park.

“Tennessee State Parks are treasured, cherished places that are kept in the public trust for all Tennesseans,” Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Deputy Commissioner Greer Tidwell said in a news release from the state. “We have been and will continue to improve our parks’ accessibility, so our parks are welcoming and inviting for everyone to enjoy the great outdoors.”

The wheelchair was made possible through a $136,000 grant from TVA that will also fund an all-terrain wheelchair at Tims Ford State Park in Franklin County, an accessible kayak launch at David Crockett State Park in Lawrence County, and transportation costs for students at Title 1 schools to visit Tennessee State Parks as part of the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy’s Kids in Parks program.

Tennessee State Parks is one of only seven state park systems in the country that provides free entry to visitors. The system now offers all-terrain wheelchairs at four state parks – Radnor Lake State Park in Davidson County, Tims Ford State Park in Franklin County, Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park in Unicoi County, and Henry Horton State Park in Marshall County.

According to the news release, all-terrain wheelchairs are available free of charge. Visitors should contact the park in advance to help ensure availability.

Gov Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly recently appropriated over $1.2 million for additional all-terrain wheelchairs to be placed in the state parks system, along with $1.6 million to make improvements on trail accessibility.

The Tennessee State Parks Conservancy, the recipient of the grant, is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization established to help raise additional funding in support of Tennessee’s state parks.

“We are thrilled to receive funding from TVA as we work to create the most accessible state park system in the nation,” said Tennessee State Parks Conservancy Executive Director Gina Hancock. “This grant allows us to provide Tennesseans who may not have been previously able to explore our parks the unique opportunity to do so. The response to our accessibility programs is heartwarming. It really is something special.”

Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Brad Turner has already used the all-terrain wheelchair offerings with his daughter.

“My family was able to enjoy the trails at Radnor Lake for the very first time together because of the all-terrain wheelchair,” said Turner.