The U.S. House Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a hearing regarding four bills aimed at expanding federal land access to U.S. military personnel, veterans and Gold Star Families. One such bill, the "Military and Veterans in Parks (MVP) Act", would create adaptive hiking trails and recreation opportunities to help wounded veterans enjoy national parks and public lands, according to a July 20 news release.
“Every American owes a debt of gratitude to the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our way of life," Subcommittee Chairman Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., said in the release. "However, when they return home, many veterans often find much of our public lands to be off-limits. Today, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands is improving outdoor recreation opportunities for these heroes by ensuring our public lands are managed in a way that makes them accessible for our nation’s military, veterans and Gold Star Families.”
The Trail Access Project defines an adaptive hiking trail as one specifically designed to allow physically disabled individuals to use and enjoy them. These trails feature amenities that make them more accessible to those who use mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers. Adaptive hiking trails may have smooth surfaces, light slopes, wide paths, handrails and other features.
"In our Adaptive Hiking Trails project, we want to provide trail characteristics related to accessibility so that you can decide for yourself whether a trail is suitable for your personal strengths, interests, and safety," the Trail Access Project website reads. "We especially want to find backcountry trails, those that take us further away from the crowds. Accessibility of a trail is very personal because each of us have different strengths and adaptive equipment. We don't rely on terms like 'accessible', 'ADA', or 'Wheelchair accessible' trail because what is accessible to you may not be accessible to me."
The current draft of the MVP Act proposes taking inventory of all existing adaptive trails and recreation opportunities on federal recreational land in addition to making related information more accessible through "prominently displayed links" on public websites. Additionally, the act stresses collaboration with the U.S. Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Defense to create educational and public awareness materials to distribute to current and former Armed Forces members.
Said materials would include information on "the benefits of outdoor recreation for physical and mental health," outdoor volunteer and wellness programs, access to guided outdoor trips and the current availability and locations of adaptive recreation opportunities and equipment, the draft reads. The MVP Act also proposes developing a public strategy to increase visits to federal recreational land by Armed Forces members, veterans and Gold Star Families.
