All-terrain wheelchair at Ross County Park District revolutionizes trail accessibility

Megan Becker, Chillicothe Gazette
·3 min read

ROSS COUNTY ― The Ross County Park District is making strides towards accessibility with its all-terrain wheelchair.

The Viking 4x4 wheelchair is a cross between a power wheelchair and an ATV. The waterproof chair has hand controls for the user and can climb steep inclines, stairs and rocks. The chair allows those with physical limitations to enjoy the outdoors.

Park District Project Manager Erin Stanley said the district aims to bring more accessibility to Ross County Parks.

"It was just an idea to expand accessibility to the parks so that more people could have the ability to get out and about," Stanley said. "When you go hiking, it's an experience unlike any other, getting out in nature."

Two years ago, the park district was awarded a Landrum Grant to be spent on community inclusion. The district used $2,850 for improvements at the Don Coppel Athletic Complex and $11,217 for the all-terrain wheelchair. Stanley said the Landrum grant played an indispensable role in making the park district more accessible.

AJ Hawk, a 21-year-old resident of Chillicothe, has cerebral palsy and is a part-time wheelchair user. AJ is the son of Allen Hawk, a maintenance supervisor for the Ross County Parks District. AJ became the inaugural user of the all-terrain wheelchair on July 21.

AJ Hawk, 21 of Chillicothe, uses an all terrain wheelchair ride on the trails while his father Allen Hawk, Maintenance Supervisor for the Ross County Parks District, uses the steering mechanism to guide the wheelchair while hiking on one of the trials at Buzzard's Roost Nature Reserve on July 21, 2023, in Chillicothe, Ohio. The wheelchair, which will soon be available for public use through the Ross County Parks District, gives people with disabilities like AJ, who has Cerebral Palsy, a chance to get out and enjoy the nature in Ross County.

Allen strapped his son to the chair using the racing seat belt. Allen walked alongside the wheelchair and controlled the chair on the hike through Buzzard's Roost. Besides the movement of the chair, the user can also control the sensitivity of the controls and adjustments to the seat.

"[The controls are] very basic," Allen said. "Any person that has ever used a power chair would understand the controls."

The father and son duo navigated small streams and protruding tree roots. When encountering a steep incline, the chair tilts to keep the user level.

More: New trail open at Buzzard's Roost in Chillicothe

Despite some initial challenges, like going around a narrow bridge and bouncing over bumpy sections of the trail, AJ smiled and laughed the whole hike. The all-terrain wheelchair enabled someone, who might have otherwise been unable to see Buzzard's Roost, to join the hike and enjoy the outdoors.

AJ Hawk, 21 of Chillicothe, uses an all terrain wheelchair to get down a set of stone stairs while his father Allen Hawk, Maintenance Supervisor for the Ross County Parks District, uses the steering mechanism to guide the wheelchair down the stairs while hiking on one of the trials at Buzzard's Roost Nature Reserve on July 21, 2023, in Chillicothe, Ohio. The wheelchair, which will soon be available for public use through the Ross County Parks District, gives people with disabilities like AJ, who has Cerebral Palsy, a chance to get out and enjoy the nature in Ross County.

Chillicothe STEM students visit the Kid's Nature Zone Trail during the school year for interactive lessons. Stanley said in previous years some students faced challenges participating in the trail activities due to mobility considerations. The district hopes the new all-terrain wheelchair will make the trail lesson available to all Chillicothe STEM students.

The Ross County Park District is still developing a policy for the all-terrain wheelchair. It may be available for public use soon. For more information, contact the park district at parksandpreserves@rosscountyohio.gov or (740) 773-8794.

The Landrum Endowment Fund was created in 2016 when George Landrum, a lifelong resident of Ross County, left an endowment of $1.2 million to the Ross County Board of Developmental Disabilities, also known as the Pioneer Center. George’s brother, John Landrum, received more than 30 years of service from the Pioneer Center.

Megan Becker is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. Call her at 740-349-1106, email her at mbecker@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @BeckerReporting.

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Ross County Park District enhances access with all-terrain wheelchair