Cedar Wood Preserve on Its Way to Greater Accessibility!

Big News!

Avalonia has received a $26,000 award from the State’s competitive Recreational Trails Grants Program. The award will fund most of the $32,000 cost of a design plan for a highly accessible trail in the meadow section of the 47-acre Cedar Wood Preserve in Norwich. Created by Chad Frost of Kent+Frost Landscape Architecture and Design, the provisional plan was developed in collaboration with people in New London County who have a variety of disabilities.

 

Accessible parking area
Accessible parking area, based on an innovative design developed by Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (built and installed by Stewardship Director Toby Glaza)

 

The application process, which was led by Elanah Sherman of Avalonia’s Board with essential assistance from Office Manager Mary Ellen Sherman (no relation), included outreach to individuals and organizations, plus an open forum at Otis Library in Norwich for review and feedback before the application was submitted in mid-March.

Jovan at Cedar Wood’s chimney swift tower, also constructed by Avalonia volunteers

The plan includes not just consideration of people with mobility disabilities, but people with hearing, visual, and developmental disabilities, as well. One such consideration is an alcove area for recap of sign language interpretation, which is difficult to maintain when people are configured in a long line. This element of the plan was generated by the experience of a Deaf participant during a 2023 guided hike. The application included the provisional plan, plus a narrative and other sections that included information about Avalonia’s ongoing accessibility initiative; already-completed accessibility improvements at Cedar Wood; and details about current collaborations. The application was strengthened by letters of support from Disabilities Network of Eastern Connecticut; South East Connecticut Community Center of the Blind; The Arc Eastern Connecticut; and Norwich Community Development Corporation.

 

 

This, like every Avalonia effort, is enabled by a brilliant staff and a network of volunteers whose labor, commitment, and extraordinary expertise make anything seem possible. The next step? Submission (in 2025) of an implementation proposal that will bring the design to meaningful and happy fruition!

 

Featured Image: Jovan Bryan, Community Conservation Coordinator for the Connecticut Land Conservation Council, on the 106-foot, volunteer-built bridge at Cedar Wood