Press Release
September 01, 2015
State Parks
Randy Simons | Dan Keefe
(518) 486-1868 | news@parks.ny.gov
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
Rita Gentles | (973) 379-2690 ext. 7123
media@ChristopherReeve.org
New York State Parks Receives Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Grant to Improve Beachfront Accessibility
All-terrain wheelchairs will be placed in Green Lakes, Delta Lake, and Gilbert Lake State Parks
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) received a $12,111 Quality of Life grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to purchase three Hippocampe Beach/All Terrain wheelchairs for use at Green Lakes State Park in Fayetteville, Delta Lake State Park in Rome and Gilbert Lake State Park near Oneonta.
Most standard wheelchairs cannot navigate the sandy or difficult terrain of State Park beaches and trails. The specialized wheelchairs will be made available to provide individuals with limited mobility access to beaches, campgrounds and miles of trails located within these parks. In particular, the wheelchairs will help support a beach accessibility initiative enabling visitors a safe means of getting to the water.
"State Parks is committed to working to ensure our facilities, programs and services are accessible and usable by visitors of all abilities," State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey said. "This innovative equipment will help provide visitors with more independence, enjoyment of nature and aquatic activities and increased community engagement for entire families at no cost. We are excited to offer this service and are grateful to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation for its generous support."
"The Reeve Foundation is committed to supporting programs and resources that foster independent living, improved health and community engagement," said Donna Valente, Director, Quality of Life Grants, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. "The awarded grantees are instrumental to our work at the Reeve Foundation as we strive to serve the community with a roadmap of invaluable resources and programs to enhance their quality of life."
The award was one of 84 grants totaling over $704,732 awarded by the Reeve Foundation to nonprofit organizations nationwide that provide more opportunities, access, and daily quality of life for individuals living with paralysis, their families, and caregivers. Conceived by the late Dana Reeve, the program has awarded over 2,500 grants totaling over $18.9 million since 1999.
Awarded twice yearly, grant requests were evaluated and scored based on a rigorous review process to determine funding for organizations that improve daily life for those living with paralysis, as well as their families and caregivers. Quality of Life grants focus on initiatives that engage and involve individuals with paralysis and their families in their community. With these initiatives, these organizations plan to help those living with paralysis assert their independence in the community.
About the Reeve Foundation
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy. We meet all 20 of the Better Business Bureau's standards for charity accountability and hold the BBB's Charity Seal. The Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) is a program of the Reeve Foundation, and is funded through a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (cooperative agreement number 90PR3002). For more information, please visit our website at www.ChristopherReeve.org or call 800-539-7309.
About New York State Parks
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 180 state parks and 35 historic sites, which are visited by 62 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
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