City grants $30,000 enhancement for accessibility overhaul at conservation site, enhancing nature experiences for individuals with disabilities.

Rewritten Article:

The Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation (RVCF) is stepping up its game, thanks to a $30,000 grant from the City of Ottawa. This cash injection kick-starts the expansion of the Nature For All project, making the Baxter Conservation Area a paradise for those with disabilities.

In phase one, we constructed a marvelous boardwalk, diving into a marshy wonderland for the wheelchair-bound, visually impaired, and everyone else seeking a nature adventure. The bridge boardwalk, completed in 2024, measures a cool 100 meters and boasts enough room for two wheelchair-bound buddies to stroll side by side. The bridges are sturdy enough to handle those extra pounds from the wheelchairs, and the educational platforms cater to the youth Participating in RVCF’s education programs.

With phase one under our belts, there’s still plenty more to conquer! The $30,000 municipal grant, funneled through a community-building projects program administered by the city’s rural affairs committee, marks the beginning of phase two. Though it covers only a small portion of the costs, RVCF Executive Director Diane Downey is optimistic, pointing out that it’s a great stepping stone.

“We’re charging ahead with phase two, which involves a whopping 950 meters of trail and boardwalk from our interpretive center to the phase one boardwalk,” Downey said. She further explained that they tackled the main boardwalk across the shoreline marsh first because it was a powerful fundraising magnet and because it was crucial to making the area accessible from the get-go.

Now that the showstopper boardwalk is complete, the focus is on making the path to that accessible boardwalk just as accessible. However, funding is key, so the city grant is invaluable. “The projected material costs are a hefty $675,000 to do the work. The city's generous donation will help us construct about 64 meters of boardwalk,” said Downey. “We’re going to take it one step at a time, attacking it incrementally as funding becomes available through business partners, donors, and government grants.”

A city spokesperson confirmed the grant was approved unanimously.

"The City granted $30,000 to RVCF to establish a new accessible outdoor boardwalk at Baxter Conservation Area," a spokesperson told Capital Current. "This replaces theexisting bridge that has fallen into disrepair and was not accessible. This project will support community building by making these amenities enjoyable for all."

The push for accessibility at the Baxter Conservation Area is spearheaded by the Nature for All committee, aimed at enhancing access to conservation areas and fostering a profound love for nature. Mike Nemesvary, one of the co-founders of Nature for All, put it all in motion due to his passion for immersing in nature.

Nemesvary, a pioneering freestyle skier in the '70s and '80s, became paraplegic following a gruesome trampoline training accident in 1985. He believes people with mobility challenges deserve the chance to enjoy nature, and the Baxter Conservation Area holds a special place in his heart.

"Me and my partner have been visiting there for the better part of 20 years," said Nemesvary. "We’ve always loved it, but it wasn't the best it could have been. It wasn't nearly as accessible as it should have been. But the potential was obvious from the start."

He explained that, although the shoreline park is one of the most beautiful parts of Ottawa, it wasn’t always well-maintained and was initially unsafe for him in his wheelchair. That situation sparked the creation of Nature for All and planning for the Phase 1 changes at Baxter soon followed.

Nemesvary emphasized that what usually keeps people with disabilities away from nature is fear of the unknown or fear of getting stuck. He believes that overcoming these fears is essential for people with disabilities to get out of their comfort zone, which is a crucial reason for the accessibility improvements at the conservation area.

So, how does Nature for All and RVCF decide what makes a conservation area more accessible? A lot of it comes down to practical tests, visiting the area and determining what improvements are needed to make it easier for people with disabilities to move around.

"We wanted to cater to people who are deaf, to people who are blind. We wanted to make things very tactile for people who are blind and provide audio so people can follow along on the website," said Nemesvary. "We aim to appeal to as many different groups with all areas of disabilities."

As for the Baxter Conservation Area, there are plans for more accessibility improvements down the line, with hopes to make the area the most accessible nature attraction in Canada.

City grants $30,000 enhancement for accessibility overhaul at conservation site, enhancing nature experiences for individuals with disabilities.