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Go get some fresh air! Just keep your distance

March 27, 2020

An older white woman holds a cane and takes the arm of an older white man as they walk and laugh together in a parkGovernor DeWine has asked Ohio’s citizens to stay at home and practice social distancing to combat COVID-19. Social distancing means staying at least six feet away from anyone who does not live with you or take care of you in your home. However, social distancing doesn’t mean you can’t get outside for some fresh air. In the interest of helping people get outside safely, the Adult Advocacy Centers have compiled a list of links of accessible outdoor parks, gardens and trails around Ohio.

Keep in mind, however, that playgrounds, basketball courts, nature centers and other park amenities that encourage groups of people to touch shared surfaces or gather in close groups are closed. If you see other people while you’re at a park, allow them to pass first from a safe distance or choose a different route. Even if they are people you know, it’s important to maintain social distancing to keep everyone safe and prevent the virus from spreading.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has a great link to accessible state park facilities. This list includes accessible paved trails, level trails and boardwalks.

Rails-to-Trials Conservancy’s TrailLink has an interactive map of Ohio’s Wheelchair Accessible Trails.

Nature for the Blind offers a list (by state) of sensory gardens and trails along with braille trails

Visit Hocking Hills has a list of the area’s wheelchair and stroller accessible trails (Update: Hocking Hills State Park is closed as of midnight on April 3, 2020)

Northeast Ohio Family Fun has gathered a list of more than 75 paved trails throughout Northeast Ohio

For more information about accessible parks in Ohio, please visit Accessible Nature.

Please make sure to follow the recommended best practices if you touch or interact with any park objects. Don’t touch your eyes, mouth or nose until you have thoroughly washed your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Do you have a resource to add to this list? Email AACs’ Director of Communications Stacy Brannan-Smith at sbrannan-smith @ adultadvocacycenters.org.