A new inclusive walking trail is coming to Centre County.
A $250,000 grant was given to the Wildlife for Everyone Foundation Wednesday from the state to build a completely handicap accessible trail at the Tom Ridge Wetlands in Julian.
The new trail will be boardwalk style, and includes a fishing platform and an education pavilion. All three would be the first of their kind here in Central Pennsylvania.
“It’s awesome because it’ll allow me to come here, and be independent and not rely on someone else,” said Dennis Coleman, Centre County resident.
Coleman loves nature, but in 2008, he fell off a roof, paralyzing him from the waist down. This accident forever changed how he interacts outdoors.
“If I go on a trail system now, it could just be a gravel road or something, I might tip over or fall, or get a flat tire. There’s all kinds of things that might happen,” said Coleman. “It’s very rare, I mean there are some paths that I can go on, but you’re not in the middle of nature, it’s through the middle of a town.”
With Wednesday’s announcement, Coleman is one step closer to a place to fish for trout, learn, and glide along a one mile boardwalk style trail.
“It’s awesome, it’s great, I’ll definitely use the trail system every week if not more.”
