STATE NEWS | Tennessee State Parks recently opened five new accessible paddling launches at Reelfoot Lake State Park, Indian Mountain State Park, and Warriors’ Path State Park.

The launches make entering and exiting a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddleboard easier for people with disabilities or limited mobility. A transition bench, roll cage with grab bars, hand straps, and pull bars to enter the water are some of the features. The three new launches bring the number of Tennessee State Parks with accessible launches to eight, including: Booker T. Washington State Park, David Crockett State Park, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, Montgomery Bell State Park, and Seven Islands State Birding Park.

“The accessible paddling launches are for every paddler, whether beginner or experienced,” said Greer Tidwell, deputy commissioner for Conservation at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. “It’s another way of making sure everyone can have the same enjoyable experience at a state park, and we’re excited to see the number of parks with different features in accessibility increase.”

Other accessible features at the parks include all-terrain wheelchairs, wheelchair-friendly paved trails and overlooks; adult-sized changing tables; and color blind viewers.

The parks system say they strive to identify and eliminate barriers that limit access to enjoying the natural, cultural, and recreational features of the parks because Tennessee State Parks are for everyone.

For more information go to the Tennessee State Parks accessibility page online. •

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