Mason Neck State Park in Lorton has debuted the new All-Terrain Wheelchair program that is available for guests who are wheelchair users or for those with mobility impairments. These chairs are all-terrain, electric powered wheelchairs that can be used on designated trails within Mason Neck.
All-Terrain Wheelchairs are available in six other State Parks: Claytor Lake, Powhatan, Shenandoah River, Wilderness Road and York River.
All-Terrain Wheelchairs are specialized chairs with track wheels designed to navigate a wide range of landscapes that may be encountered in outdoor environments.
Funding from the Virginia State Parks license plate sales has contributed to the purchase of these chairs. Since becoming available for purchase in 2019, $15 in funding has been invested from each license plate purchase toward projects to improve the visitor experience and accessibility projects for all park visitors.
As part of their commitment to making Virginia’s public lands places for all to enjoy, DCR, Virginia Department of Forestry, and Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources are in the process of evaluating safety concerns and the environmental impacts of opening these trails on public lands to the use of other power-driven mobility devices.
The chairs are free to the public and available for both children and adults but must be reserved in advance. It is encouraged that guests make a reservation request at least 48 hours in advance at Virginia State Parks -All-Terrain Wheelchair Reservation Request to give notice when you’d like to use a wheelchair. Photos courtesy Virginia State Parks.
