New All-Terrain Wheelchair Improves Access In East Haddam Nature Preserve

EAST HADDAM, CT — A new all-terrain wheelchair is now available for the public’s use at the local Burnham Brook Preserve.

The wheelchair is designed to make it possible for more people, including those with mobility challenges, to enjoy the preserve’s natural beauty. It allows users to navigate different types of terrain and inclines on trails.

The “track chair,” another name for the wheelchair, is available to visitors of all ages, according to The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut, which is based in New Haven.

According to the organization, its 1,122-acre Burnham Brook Preserve features scenic woodlands, grassy fields, vernal pools and waterways. It is home to diverse wildlife, with more than 180 bird species spotted there.

Austin Wheaton recently tested the wheelchair and navigated it along a wooded path.

“All of it was fun because I’ve never done it before,” Wheaton said.

Visitors may use the track chair on some existing trails, but Burnham Brook plans to create more in the future. Plans are in the works for a future path that will connect to a scenic overlook.

The all-terrain wheelchair was made available for the public’s use earlier this summer, and The Nature Conservancy is trying to raise awareness about its availability.

Martha Rice, the organization’s volunteer coordinator in Connecticut, said staff worked hard to launch the program.

“We are excited to connect people from all communities to nature and the opportunity to enjoy a trip into the woods, sit by a vernal pool, or simply appreciate the beauty and quiet of the Burnham Brook Preserve,” Rice said.

The Community Foundation of Middlesex County contributed funding for the wheelchair, and Athletic Brewing Company’s Two For the Trails conservation grants program is providing support for trail development.

Learn more about the track chair, and go online to reserve it at nature.org/trackchairct.