William O’Brien State Park to unveil $5M in accessibility improvements

William O Brien State Park in northern Washington County in recent days underwent a million renovation to make the park s day use area campground and park office more accessible to people with mobility issues The park s Walter F Mondale Day Use Area will reopen to the constituents on May and the park s Riverway Campground and Riverside Group Camp will reopen on May The lower area of the park has been closed since March while crews worked to improve accessibility Among the improvements an accessible amenity counter and windows for visitors at the park office various accessible paths from the Riverside Trail parking lot and picnic shelters and accessible picnic tables This project was funded by state bonding funds and the Get Out MORE Modernize Outdoor Recreation Experiences initiative Get Out MORE is a million initiative to help ensure Minnesotans of all abilities and interests enjoy a world-class recreation system whichever outdoor experience they choose DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen declared A visitor tests out an all-terrain track chair at Myre-Big Island State Park near Albert Lea Minn on June Deborah Rose Minnesota Department of Natural Support The improvements are an example of how the Get Out MORE initiative adopted in is modernizing outdoor recreation experiences for Minnesotans Strommen disclosed This project enhances access and helps welcome new users to inhabitants lands which helps Minnesotans of all interests and abilities better connect with the outdoors Get Out MORE funds also are being used to purchase two all-terrain track chairs for the park The electric-powered chairs which can be used on designated trails within the park are available to anyone who has a need and can help visitors explore areas of the state parks in new solutions often on trails that are not suitable for regular wheelchairs There will be track chairs in use in state parks in Minnesota by this summer stated Lauren Peck a spokeswoman for the DNR William O Brien will be the first state park to get them in the St Croix Valley area Peck reported Up until now we ve had only one track chair in the metro area at Fort Snelling State Park so adding two at William O Brien will be really great and I m sure will get a lot of demand The Fort Snelling one is really popular and gets a ton of use so I m sure William O Brien will be the same Track chairs are available year-round in a few locations and seasonally in others Users must sign a waiver to check one out no other documentation is required Universal design A new accessible canoe kayak launch on Lake Alice allows adaptive paddlers to safely transfer in and out of the water Courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Natural Tools Improvements to the park s day use area Riverway Campground and park office were made using universal design which benefits all visitors DNR authorities announced The park office building now has additional accessible parking ADA-compliant outdoor system counter and windows and new automatic door openers When it reopens May the day use area including the masses water access beach and Riverside Trail will have two new accessible restroom buildings a new picnic shelter near Lake Alice beach accessibility improvements to two existing picnic shelters including accessible routes from parking grills and new vault toilets a safer parking lot with better beach access a larger more accessible swimming beach with an ADA-compliant direction to the water s edge and a new accessible canoe kayak launch on Lake Alice A stretch of the Riverside Trail along the St Croix River was lately resurfaced as part of accessibility improvements at William O'Brien State Park Courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Natural Tools When it reopens on May the Riverway Campground will have six ADA-compliant campsites a resurfaced Riverside Trail a new accessible highway to the park amphitheater and a resurfaced and regraded overflow parking area and trail connections Campground shower building renovations are expected to be completed by June campers will have a rustic camping experience with vault toilets during the month of May according to the DNR We re excited to welcome the citizens back to this popular area of the park and offer improved amenities that all park visitors can enjoy reported Ann Pierce director of Minnesota DNR s Parks and Trails Division Related Articles Athena Bitcoin asks Stillwater to repeal cryptocurrency ATM ban HealthPartners opens new specialty center in Woodbury Jackpot winner approaches forward for million lottery ticket sold in Woodbury Oak Park Heights state of urgency declared to deal with water main break Lake Elmo assistant principal injured in fight between students