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Genesee Land Trust Opens Accessible Observation Deck at Salmon Creek Nature Preserve in Hilton
Just in time for fall birding, local conservation organization improves access to nature for everyone, especially the region’s 300,000+ people living with disabilities
HILTON, NY, OCOTBER 28, 2024 — Genesee Land Trust, the local conservation organization protecting and caring for land and water forever, opened a new observation deck at Salmon Creek Nature Preserve with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, October 28th. The observation deck is the latest – and largest – step in Genesee Land Trust’s ongoing commitment to create more welcoming and inclusive outdoor spaces.
“The observation deck at Salmon Creek Nature Preserve in Hilton is an exciting improvement that benefits everyone,” says Lorna Wright, Executive Director of Genesee Land Trust. “We couldn’t do it without the support and generosity of our members and community partners. Together we’ll keep protecting the places people love and continue working to create opportunities for folks of all ages and abilities to enjoy nature for generations to come.”
The elevated deck features an accessible ramp, benches, and shade. It’s located 1/3 mile from the parking lot along a wide grassy trail that is still bumpy in places. Genesee Land Trust plans to smooth the trail and make other accessibility improvements to Salmon Creek Nature Preserve and other properties.
Starting in 2023, the Land Trust has partnered with Rochester Accessible Adventures to improve access at nature preserves, community events, and throughout the organization.
“Improving accessibility is an ongoing journey that requires truly operating through a lens of inclusion all of the time, and Genesee Land Trust is making real progress,” says Anita O’Brien, Founder and Executive Director of RAA.
Over the past two years, Genesee Land Trust has improved access to its 19 nature preserves in a variety of ways. In addition to the accessible observation deck, the Land Trust has:
· created and/or expanded six parking lots
· built six benches for scenic resting
· built one shade structure over a bench
· updated one boardwalk
Community support for these improvements has been inspiring. Rochester Birding Association provided funding to help create the accessible observation deck and volunteers from Rochester Davis-Fetch and the Carpenters Union Local 276 built the deck as part of their workforce development training.
Representatives from those organizations attended the ribbon cutting ceremony alongside Town of Parma Supervisor Jim Roose, State Assemblyman Josh Jensen, and staff from the offices of US Senator Joe Morelli and NY State Senator Rob Ortt.
“Every time the outdoor places I love to visit improve their trails, it’s like another wonderful world that opens to me… Even little things like a ramp make a really big difference,” says Carol Cobia, a resident of Hilton, NY, that uses an electric scooter. “While I never let my disability stop me, it’s really wonderful that the Land Trust is working to make more local places available to folks like me.”
Carol is one of more than 300,000 people living with a disability in Greater Rochester, but this number doesn’t reflect the full impact of people who need better and more welcoming access to nature.
“We know that when we create more welcoming nature experiences it opens the doors for families and friends to share the joy of being outdoors,” says Kevin Farrell, Director of Conservation Programs for Genesee Land Trust.
Links:
Salmon Creek Nature Preserve details and trail map
Channel 8 News: https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/accessible-raised-deck-opened-at-salmon-creek-nature-preserve/
About Genesee Land Trust:
Genesee Land Trust supports our community – people, plants, and wildlife - by permanently protecting lands and waterways in Monroe, Wayne, Ontario, Genesee, Orleans, Livingston, Cayuga, and Seneca counties. Founded in 1989, Genesee Land Trust has permanently protected more than 9,500 acres of land, including 19 public nature preserves, 38 family farms, and more than 30 privately owned woods, wetlands, and meadows. A growing group of about 1,000 members support the non-profit organization, which also connects people to nature through complimentary events and educational programming. In 2019 the Land Trust founded the Genesee River Alliance, a leading advocacy group working with city and state leaders on river-related projects like the new state park at High Falls. Learn more at https://www.geneseelandtrust.org/
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