Tennessee State Parks announced the installation of adult-sized changing tables at five state parks as part of efforts to increase accessibility for all visitors.
The added tables bring the total of parks with adult-sized changing tables to six, including one announced in January at Natchez Trace State Park. July marked the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities.
Tennessee State parks with adult-sized changing tables:
- Fall Creek Falls State Park (map)
- Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park (map)
- Paris Landing State Park (map)
- Pickwick Landing State Park (map)
- Reelfoot Lake State Park (map)
- Natchez Trace State Park (map)
The changing tables enhance accessibility for tasks such as toileting. The table will assist changing for adults with disabilities, children and teens. Beyond being more convenient and dignified for visitors who need them, tables like these open new possibilities for traveling and enjoying parks for many visitors and their caregivers.
“We want to make our state parks the most accessible in the country, and this is an important step forward,” said Greer Tidwell, deputy commissioner for Conservation at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. “We are grateful to the Department of Disability and Aging, the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy, and the Tennessee Valley Authority’s North Region for their partnership, and we look forward to more visitors enjoying parks that meet their needs.”
Natchez Trace State Park visitor Jessie Parrish has commented on what the accessibility of the table at the park has meant for her son Micah, writing in his school newspaper,
“For people like us, this is huge. This allows us to get back to nature and enjoy hobbies we love, and we can take Micah with us. If we need to change him in public, we now have access to a park with a restroom that will allow him to retain his dignity and privacy. Accessibility for everyone is important in a functioning society. I personally think it is what makes us a great community.”
Tennessee State Parks is focused on reducing barriers that limit access to enjoying the natural, cultural, and recreational offerings throughout the park system. For more information about accessibility in Tennessee State Parks, click here.
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