Georgia State Parks Offer Track Chairs
Thanks to a partnership between the Aimee Copeland Foundation (aimeecopelandfoundation.org) and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (gastateparks.org), many Georgia State Parks offer track chairs to disabled visitors. These all terrain wheelchairs are fitted with tank tracks instead of wheels, and can maneuver through mud and over trails that might otherwise be inaccessible in standard wheelchairs. They can be used for hiking, hunting, fishing and other recreational activities. There’s no charge to borrow the track chairs, but a safety certification and a 48-hour advance reservation are required.
The following Georgia State Parks offer track chairs:
- Cloudland Canyon State Park (gastateparks.org/CloudlandCanyon)
- Don Carter State Park (gastateparks.org/DonCarter)
- Red Top Mountain State Park (gastateparks.org/RedTopMountain)
- Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site (gastateparks.org/EtowahIndianMounds)
- Fort Yargo State Park (gastateparks.org/FortYargo)
- Hard Labor Creek State Park (gastateparks.org/HardLaborCreek)
- Panola Mountain State Park (gastateparks.org/PanolaMountain)
- Picketts Mill Battlefield Historic Site (gastateparks.org/PickettsMillBattlefield)
- Smithgall Woods State Park (gastateparks.org/SmithgallWoods)
- Sweetwater Creek State Park (gastateparks.org/SweetwaterCreek)
- Charles Elliott Wildlife Center (georgiawildlife.com/charlie-elliott-wildlife-center)
Visitors with an accessible parking placard are eligible to borrow the track chairs. They must be accompanied by a companion 18 years of age or older, who is able to navigate the park terrain alongside the track chair. The user and companion must both submit a copy of their photo IDs. The user must also submit proof of eligibility, such as a copy of their parking placard. All documents must be e-mailed to info@allterraingeorgia.org.
Once the documents are received, the user will be sent a link to a safety/operational tutorial. The user and the companion must then pass an online test, after which the user will be sent a link and a password to access the online reservation system.
For more information about the track chair program, visit gastateparks.org/Accessibility/TrackChairs or e-mail info@allterraingeorgia.org.
