New York is installing 40 adaptive color-enhancing viewfinders at 36 scenic destinations as part of a broader effort to make state lands and outdoor recreation more accessible to people with disabilities.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation announced the expansion Friday while marking the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, saying the work also includes adaptive birding, fishing and archery equipment, sensory kits, mobility scooters and beach-access improvements.
The viewfinders use EnChroma lens technology designed to help people with red-green color vision deficiency see a broader spectrum of color while also enhancing scenic views for other visitors. One installation is at Prospect Mountain overlooking Lake George in the Adirondacks.
The project is part of Gov. Kathy Hochul's These Lands Are for Everyone initiative. DEC said the viewfinders were funded through its Love Our New York Lands initiative and supported by a federal grant intended to encourage outdoor recreation.
"As we celebrate this landmark civil rights law, DEC is proud to continue building on its legacy by expanding access to New York's public lands," DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. "Through Governor Hochul's These Lands Are for Everyone initiative, we are helping ensure more New Yorkers can experience the beauty, recreation, and health benefits our natural resources provide."
DEC has also expanded adaptive recreation equipment through a partnership with the state Department of Health's Disability and Health Program. The equipment includes spotting scopes, viewing screens, monoculars, wheelchair-mounted viewing systems and binocular chest harnesses for visitors with limited vision, mobility, hand strength or chronic pain.
Other additions include fishing supports for people with limited arm strength, adaptive archery stands for visitors with mobility limitations and sensory kits for neurodivergent visitors taking part in recreation and environmental education programs.
New mobility scooters are available at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center and Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve. DEC also added a beach wheelchair at Hinckley Day Use Area and beach-access mats for programs at Mount Loretto Unique Area and the Catskill Center.
The agency said it has distributed much of the adaptive equipment to environmental education centers and regional offices to support accessible programming throughout the year. It has also provided assessment equipment and training to operations and land-management staff to help identify and carry out accessibility improvements.
New York State Chief Disability Officer Kimberly Hill-Ridley said the investments are intended to remove barriers that prevent people from fully experiencing public outdoor spaces.
"From adaptive viewfinders that bring vibrant landscapes into focus to sensory kits and beach access, these investments reflect our unwavering commitment to building an inclusive, accessible New York for people of all abilities," Hill-Ridley said.
DEC said it continues to work with its Accessibility Advisory Committee, agency accessibility coordinators, partner agencies and other stakeholders. The department offers accessible trails, campgrounds, fishing and hunting opportunities, wildlife-viewing areas, environmental education programs, adaptive equipment and accommodations on public lands.
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