EBS STAFF
Ability Montana and the City of Bozeman have broken ground on a new accessible gravel trail loop in Lindley Park, replacing the former uneven mulch surface with steep grades that made navigation difficult for wheelchair users, seniors and parents with strollers.
“I’m thrilled to see that this part of the park is going to become more accessible to all of us with compromised mobility and also make the park more accessible and easier for all able bodies and vendors as well,” Liz Ann Kudrna, the resident who first vocalized concerns about the park, stated in a press release from the City of Bozeman. “We will all be able to enjoy the many events in the park or just sitting in the trees there if we wish.”
The $42,000 project, funded through the city’s community grant program, is expected to wrap up in time for the First Annual Bozeman ADA Celebration on July 25, a community event honoring the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The event will include a 5K and Fun Run at 9 a.m..
“Projects like this one that increase someone’s access to the park are good for everyone, as they increase everyone’s ability to safely walk through a space,” stated Bozeman Mayor Joey Morrison. “We’re glad that Ability Montana and residents spoke out about the need for this improvement, and that we were able to find ways to make it work. Their input has resulted in a better space for everyone in our community.”
