Texas State Parks Offer GRIT Freedom Chairs
In order to make their natural areas more accessible to wheelchair-users and slow walkers, several Texas state parks offer GRIT Freedom Chairs. The GRIT Freedom Chair is a cross between a manual wheelchair and a mountain bike, and it allows wheelchair-users and slow walkers to access rugged terrain or sandy beaches.
Built with mountain bike parts, the GRIT Freedom Chair has three wheels – two standard wheelchair wheels on the sides of the seat, and a smaller wheel in front of the chair. It’s easier to self-propel than a standard wheelchair, thanks to the lever handles installed on each side of the seat. There are also push handles on the back of the chair for folks who need more assistance. Add in some all terrain tires, and you have a rugged wheelchair, built to tackle rougher terrain. And although GRIT Freedom Chairs are easy to transport, these Texas State Parks offer loaner models on site.
Estero Llano Grande State Park
tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/estero-llano-grande
Thanks to the Blake Howell Foundation, wheelchair-users and slow walkers can explore more trails on a loaner GRIT Freedom Chair at Estero Llano Grande State Park. A World Birding Center location, this park is a great birding location filled with lots of waders and shorebirds (emerginghorizons.com/mcallen-revisited-south-texas-birding-update/).
McKinney Falls State Park
tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/mckinney-falls
A loaner GRIT Freedom Chair is available at the office from 8 AM to 5 PM. Reservations can be made by calling (512) 243-1643 or e-mailing McKinneyFallsSP@tpwd.texas.gov. There are more than nine miles of trails to explore in this park.
Lake Corpus Christi State Park
tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/lake-corpus-christi
Lake Corpus Christi State Park has a GRIT Freedom Chair available for loan at the park office. This all terrain wheelchair was purchased with a grant from the Blake Howell Foundation. It can be used to access the shoreline, trails and the 400-foot accessible fishing pier.
