As a nature lover in a wheelchair, when Bill Bogdan wants to go kayaking, he typically needs two or three people to help him. Someone has to sit on the kayak so it doesn’t tip over, and someone has to drag it into the water.
With a new accessible kayak launch at Beaubien Woods in Chicago’s Riverdale neighborhood, he can do it himself. The launch holds the kayak stable while he scoots down metal steps and slides on top of it, then uses overhead straps and railings to lower himself in and ease into the water.
“It’s awesome,” said Bogdan, who serves on the Forest Preserves of Cook County’s accessibility advisory board. “I feel our forest preserves are hidden gems, and (I) want to increase accessibility for people with disabilities. I’m going to make sure I hold them to the tag line, nature is for everyone.”
Paraplegics, quadriplegics, people with multiple sclerosis or those who have limited use of their arms and hands, can now boat in kayaks wearing life jackets and using Velcro gloves to help hold the paddle, or using outriggers, floating projections attached to the outside of the craft, which keep it from tipping over.
The adaptive launch on the Little Calumet River cost about $185,000. It is part of $2 million in upgrades at Beaubien Woods, such as new seating along the river, a program shelter with interpretive signage and an improved fishing boardwalk. The new launch is part of an ongoing effort by the forest preserve district to increase options for people with disabilities.
Earlier this year, the district acquired 13 all-terrain wheelchairs with fat tires and hand-operated propulsion levers, which can be signed out for free at any of its six nature centers, and Sullivan, Reinberg and Camp Bullfrog Lake campsites.
To accommodate them, the district is working with Chicago Area Mountain Bikers to develop trails that are at least 40 inches wide for adaptive mountain biking. Plans also call for a new accessible trail from Beaubien Woods to the nearby Altgeld Gardens Homes.
The district also has accessible facilities at picnic groves, five campgrounds, eight fishing sites and two boat launches, and free adaptive equipment for its climbing wall at Camp Sullivan, and is expanding availability of accessible washrooms and toilets. Camp Bullfrog Lake is one of the busiest locations, with accessible fishing on docks with wheelchair guardrails and lower hand rails, as well as kayaking, camping and picnic shelters all at one location.
There is also an accessible kayak launch at the River Park Boathouse on the Chicago River at Argyle Street, and on Lake Chaminwood in Will County forest preserves.
After voters approved a $40 million property tax increase in 2022 for pensions, land acquisition, construction and operations, the Cook forest preserve district hired Kenyon Duner as its first accessibility coordinator.
He works with the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago to offer programming such as peddle and paddle outings, where groups go out to bike and kayak.
He’s also working on getting audible signage for some trails, with push-button speaker boxes to describe the experience for the visually impaired, featuring bird and animal noises that visually impaired visitors might hear.
Bogdan, who was left paraplegic after an operation for a tumor on his spine when he was an infant, plans on exploring the preserves with his wife and kids.
“It just goes to show you life doesn’t stop for a disability,” he said. “Get out there and enjoy.”