Looking for accessible outdoor recreation in Muskegon, Michigan? Jeffrey VanDyke of Disability Network West Michigan shares his firsthand experience exploring local beaches and trails using adaptive equipment available at locations including Pere Marquette Beach, Muskegon State Park, and P.J. Hoffmaster State Park.
Accessibility Through Lived Experience
I am a Peer Mentor, Graphic Designer, Social Media Manager, and Community Presenter at Disability Network West Michigan. My work includes talking about accessibility and how it can help create a better, more inclusive world.
I also speak from lived experience. I am a wheelchair user and was born with cerebral palsy after arriving three months prematurely.
Accessibility is meant to open the world to more people, but it is important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Something that works for one person may not meet the needs of another.
Sometimes accessibility takes conversation, trial and error, compassion, creative thinking, and even a little MacGyvering with the available tools. Don’t look at the screen like that. I’m not that old. We’re talking about the reboot!
When people listen and work together, they can create solutions that affect someone’s life in ways they may never fully realize.
More Than Access
Design by Jeffrey VanDyke
Accessibility is not simply about whether someone can enter or reach a place. It can mean the difference between watching an experience and actively participating in it.
The right adaptive equipment can make everyday activities possible for people who may otherwise be excluded from them. Until recently, independently exploring a sandy beach or rugged trail was something I could only imagine.
Then I had the privilege of doing both.
Exploring Muskegon’s Beaches and Trails with a TrackChair
Using an Action Trackchair provided at Muskegon State Park, I was able to explore the beach and travel the trails at Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park.
For the first time, I could move across the sand independently. I did not have to worry about becoming stuck or wait for someone else to move me from one place to another.
It is difficult to fully describe that experience, but one word comes close: freeing.
A Meaningful Moment by the Water
As I looked out at the water, I could not help but think about my mom.
She was my first and lifelong disability advocate. She loved sitting near the lake and watching the water from our car. Because the beach was not accessible to us, we could not leave the vehicle and explore it together.
We lost her in 2020 after an 18-month battle with lung cancer. As I moved independently across the sand, I felt connected to her. I imagined she was enjoying the view with me and looking over the journey with pride.
That moment showed me how adaptive equipment can provide more than physical access. It can create independence, connection, joy, and memories.
Creating More Opportunities Outdoors
Adaptive zipline at Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park. Photo courtesy of Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park
Beyond my own experience, I know this equipment can help more people with disabilities explore beaches, trails, and terrain that may otherwise be difficult or impossible to navigate.
These opportunities can change how people with disabilities experience travel and outdoor recreation. They allow us to participate, explore, and experience the same hope and joy that everyone deserves.
I am grateful this equipment is available and that future visitors will have opportunities many of us could only imagine in the past.
Jeffrey VanDyke Graphic Design Specialist Disability Network West Michigan
Where to Find Accessible Outdoor Recreation in Muskegon County
Several outdoor recreation destinations throughout Muskegon County offer adaptive equipment and accessibility features that help more visitors enjoy beaches, trails, dunes, and outdoor adventures.
Available amenities may include:
- TrackChairs designed to navigate sand, trails, and uneven terrain.
- Beach wheelchairs and Mobi-Chairs that help visitors access the shoreline and, in some cases, enter the water.
- Mobi Mats® that create a firm, stable pathway across the sand for wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, and other mobility devices.
Because availability, reservation requirements, and accessibility features can vary, visitors should contact each location directly before their visit.
Pere Marquette Park
Adaptive equipment and accessible beach features are available at Pere Marquette Beach.
Reservations and Information
Call the City of Muskegon Department of Public Works at (231) 724-4100 for information about available equipment and reservations.
Muskegon State Park
Muskegon State Park offers adaptive equipment and accessibility features that help visitors explore the beach, trails, and surrounding natural areas.
Reservations and Information
Contact the park office at (231) 744-3480 during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
P.J. Hoffmaster State Park
P.J. Hoffmaster State Park offers accessibility features that help more visitors experience the dunes, trails, and Lake Michigan shoreline.
P.J. Hoffmaster State Park provides accessibility features that help more visitors experience the dunes, trails, and Lake Michigan shoreline.
Reservations and Information
Call (231) 798-3711 or stop by the park office for current information on accessibility features, equipment availability, and visitor accommodations.
What Should You Know Before Reserving Adaptive Equipment?
- Adaptive equipment is offered at no cost based on the information currently available.
- Equipment availability may vary by location and season.
- Advance reservations may be required.
- A companion may be needed to assist with transfers or operation of some equipment.
- Weather, beach conditions, trail conditions, and seasonal operations may affect availability.
- Contact the location directly before your visit to confirm current information and discuss your individual needs.
Accessibility is not the same for every person. Speaking directly with the location is the best way to determine whether the available equipment and experience will meet your needs.
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