By Sophia Brandt: Complete Post through this link…
Three more Michigan state parks will receive all-terrain wheelchairs this summer to make parks more accessible.
They include Wilderness State Park in Emmet County, Warren Dunes in Berrien County and North Higgins Lake in Crawford County. That brings the number of state parks that have at least one of the chairs to 14. Some have two or even three, including Holland State Park, Grand Haven State Park and Ludington State Park.
These chairs can go through water up to 8 inches, drive over sand and other terrain a typical wheelchair could not get through.
Track chairs range in cost, typically between $15,000 to $20,000, according to Action Trackchair, a Minnesota-based manufacturer.
Most chairs have been donated or bought through fundraising efforts for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources parks and recreation department.
The park system’s first five track chairs were donated in 2016 by Kali’s Cure for Paralysis Foundation, an organization founded in 2008 to fund spinal cord research at hospitals and rehabilitation centers.
“The parks were not only the best way to reach the largest number of people, but also make them accessible to people who might never have had a chance to experience the outdoors or even enjoy an afternoon at the park with their family,” said Kali Pung, co-founder of Kali’s Cure, based in Alma.