Friends of Mason Neck State Park
 
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Friends of Mason Neck State Park Accessibility Initiative


   The Friends have worked closely with park management to make the park more accessible to all people.



Here are our accessibility projects:


  • Marsh View Trail Resurface (2025): We contracted with Ironwood Outdoors, Inc. to resurface the Marsh View Trail. This quarter-mile trail to a quiet view of the wetlands at Kane's Creek is fairly level, but it was originally surfaced with large stones that made access by wheelchairs, strollers and rolling walkers very difficult. In addition, in many places the trail was too narrow to accommodate two people to pass easily. The trail  has been resurfaced with fine stone that people with mobility challenges can navigate easily.  It has also been widened and waysides have been added to allow people to pull off the trail and allow others to pass.
  • Walkway to Belmont Bay Overlook (2025): Kris Gulden, our Accessibility Advisor, told us that she loved the park but could not see Belmont Bay. Park staff cut back the vegetation behind the Visitor Center to make it possible for wheelchair users and other seated guests to see the bay from the patio. However, people with mobility challenges could only access the patio when the Visitor Center was open. The Friends sponsored the construction of a concrete walkway from the Visitor Center parking lot to the patio so that everyone can access it whenever the park is open.



  • Belmont Bay View Path Resurface (2025): We realized that the path from the picnic area and playground to the overlook to Belmont Bay was too narrow and rough for people with mobility challenges to navigate. We contracted with Ironwood Outdoors to widen the path and surface it with fine stone so it is fully accessible.   
  • Access to Picnic Area Tables (2023): We paid for materials to create two accessible paths of access from the picnic area parking lot to the park's wheelchair-accessible picnic tables.
  


  • Osprey View Trail Handrails (2023): We helped cover the costs of replacing the rope guides along the Osprey View Trail with wooden railings that make it easier for people with mobility challenges to navigate the trail. 

  • Enchroma Glasses for Color Vision Deficiency (2024): We purchased Enchroma Glasses that allow people with color vision deficiency to see nature in all its beautiful colors. The glasses are available for loan without charge at the Visitor Center. The glasses complement the Enchroma viewing scope that the park installed in the patio behind the Visitor Center.
  



  • Support for All-Terrain Wheelchair (2022-2023): We lobbied the General Assembly in support of legislation providing for a pilot program to bring six Trackmaster battery-powered all-terrain wheelchairs to state parks for use by people with limited mobility. Thanks to the support of park management, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and local legislators, the legislation was enacted into law and Mason Neck State Park received one of the wheelchairs. It is now available for use without charge. You can reserve the Trackmaster wheelchair here. 
 



  • Support for International Adaptive Activity Day (2024, 2025): Mason Neck State Park celebrates the day with opportunities to test drive the battery-operated all terrain wheelchair, try out adaptive archery equipment, view adaptive kayak equipment, talk with a representative of Birdability about birding for people with disabilities, and more. The Friends, and particularly Kris Gulden, our Accessibility Advisor, helped to advertise the event and provided volunteer help.
  • Review of the park's accessible trails (2023): We prepared detailed reviews of the park's four accessible trails, complete with photos and descriptions of the sights along each trail, the trail surface, and an audio description for the visually impaired.


ACCESSIBLE TRAILS


Mason Neck State Park identifies four trails as accessible or partially accessible. Click on the links below to see photos and information about each trail.  


Dogue Trail (green blaze, accessible)

Audio Description: Dogue Trail.m4a


High Point Multi-Use Trail (no blaze, accessible)

Audio Description: High Point Road Multi-use Trail.m4a


 Marsh View Trail.pdf (maroon blaze, accessible)

Audio Description: Marsh View Trail.m4a


Osprey View Trail.pdf (formerly Beach Trail; green blaze, partially accessible)

Audio Description: Osprey View Trail.m4a


More information on trail accessibility in the park and throughout the country is available from Birdability, a non-profit organization that works to ensure the birding community that the outdoors are welcoming, inclusive, safe and accessible for everybody. Birdability has partnered with the National Audubon Society to create a crowd-sourced map that describes in detail the accessibility features of birding locations throughout the United States. While the map was created with birdwatching in mind, the information about trails shown on the map is useful to anyone who has an interest in the accessibility of trails.  You can get information on trails all over the United States, here. 


© 2017 Friends of Mason Neck State Park, Inc.
Logo by Floyd Harrison
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