Westchester's parks and trails are becoming more accessible thanks to new program

Mark Vergari, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
·1 min read

Westchester Parks Foundation launched its first All-Terrain Trackchair program in Westchester County at Saxon Woods Park on Wednesday.

The WPF Trails Without Limits program allows individuals living with paralysis, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy and other disabilities the opportunity to enjoy Westchester County trails using specially designed all-terrain Trackchairs that can be used on dirt trails, mud, sand and grass. The program is free for users and will launch first at Saxon Woods Park in White Plains, Lenoir Preserve in Yonkers and Muscoot Farm in Katonah with the chairs being rotated to other parks throughout the year.

"The health-related benefits of spending time outdoors makes a huge impact on your mental and physical state," said Seth Mandelbaum, chairperson for the Westchester Parks Foundation.

Kevin Lange from Pleasantville, a pilot program participant in the Westchester Parks Foundation All-Terrain Trackchair program, navigates the trails with volunteer Nancy Rosenbach and Adam Lippman, a volunteer coordinator at Saxon Woods Park in White Plains, March 29, 2023.
Kevin Lange from Pleasantville, a pilot program participant in the Westchester Parks Foundation All-Terrain Trackchair program, navigates the trails with volunteer Nancy Rosenbach and Adam Lippman, a volunteer coordinator at Saxon Woods Park in White Plains, March 29, 2023.

"Well it gives me the opportunity to get back onto the trails and enjoying nature that I really can't do in my power wheelchair that has no clearance," said Kevin Lang, a pilot program participant from Pleasantville.

Rome Leykin, another participant fro Stamford, Connecticut, said, "It's a huge amount of freedom, into the great outdoors again."

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Westchester Parks get more accessible with all-terrain Trackchairs