New Track Chairs Let You Take the Scenic Route—Literally

Gentle Reader, it's getting to be summertime (I know, it's been that way for a literal hot minute, ha!). And for a lot of families, that means getting outside. But it's not quite that easy for everyone. Luckily, I have some good news for ya! If anybody in your family is differently abled, they can ALSO go hiking with the rest of the family.

The Missouri Parks Association is on a mission. It's to make sure everyone can enjoy the great outdoors, no matter how many wheels (or tank treads) it takes. As part of that commitment, they’ve donated three new Action Trackchairs to Missouri State Parks. That’s right: nature just got a whole lot more all-terrain. I mean, check this thing out.

If you’ve never seen one, Action Trackchairs are basically the off-road SUVs of wheelchairs. Forget dainty wheels - these bad boys come with tank-like tracks that let folks with limited mobility cruise through dirt trails, rocky paths, and other spots that would normally laugh in the face of a standard wheelchair.

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Thanks to the Missouri Parks Association’s generous gift, the state’s fleet now has six of these trail-ready machines sprinkled across the map. That means more opportunities for more people to explore the wild beauty of Missouri....... without worrying if their wheels can handle it.

You can now find Action Trackchairs at:

• Bryant Creek State Park (Ava)
• Bennett Spring State Park (Lebanon)
• Battle of Lexington State Historic Site (Lexington)
• Gen. John J. Pershing Boyhood Home Historic Site (Laclede)
• Elephant Rocks State Park (Belleview)
• Castlewood State Park (Ballwin)

So whether you’re after sweeping views, historical haunts, or just a good old-fashioned tree to sit under, there’s now a way to get there — with treads, dignity, and maybe a little dirt on your shoes. Nature for all? Now that’s a walk in the park.  Sorry.  I'll see myself out.

via GIPHY

Now, you can use them for free, but you have to make a reservation at least two days in advance at whichever park you're planning to visit.  You can click through to the links above to get their contact information. Oh, and someone who is over 18 must be with the Trackchair rider.  But they say that's mostly because they can't guarantee they'll have a park employee there to help you get IN the chair.  But if you've got a friend who can help you for a second, you should be golden.  And if you're going with the family, ya'll will be together anyway.  Of course, you can't just leave a kid alone in one of those, so that's part of why, but you get it.

Get out there and Track it up!

Parkingly yours,
Behka