By Brandon Tennis, Senior Vice President of Stewardship
Universal access trails are a part of the Lancaster Conservancy’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in access to natural lands, and the universally accessible Lloyd Clark Trail has set a new standard for the stewardship of our preserves.
Lloyd Clark UA Trail opening celebration (Photo by Nick Gould)
The Lloyd Clark Trail opened on Sept. 19, 2024. Approximately 1 mile in length, the new trail has a packed stone surface and an easy grade, welcoming community members of varying mobilities to meander through a meadow and forest edge. It is the third universal access trail on Conservancy preserves, and we have plans to install at least two more in the near future.
Universal access is for all of us. It’s for people with long-term limited mobility as well as people with temporarily limited mobility. It’s for people who use wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, and canes, and for those who are simply looking for a smooth, packed, unobstructed surface.
Universal access is for people with impaired vision who rely on a predictable, defined surface or who may have a service animal that, up to this point, hasn’t had much experience leading a hiker across natural lands.
Universal access is for people living with developmental or intellectual disabilities or other physical or mental health concerns that impact their mobility. It’s for older people who, as my folks would say, maybe can’t “do” like they used to, as well as people with young children dependent on strollers, wagons, or backpack carriers to get across the finish line. It’s for people who like to get exercise, inexperienced hikers looking for a place to start exploring outdoors, and those who are looking for a brisk walk and a breath of fresh air. It’s for hunters to get in at daybreak before a workday.
Universal access is for our first responders’ emergency access and safety. It’s for classes of school kids on a field trip to a wildflower meadow, wooded uplands, and our scenic Susquehanna River.
All of these people enjoying universal access on the Lloyd Clark Trail and the Conservancy’s other universal access trails are our family, our friends, and our community, as well as ourselves. It is our honor and our privilege to be able to provide universal access on Conservancy nature preserves where possible, taking significant action toward offering access to nature for everyone.
Lloyd Clark UA Trail (Photo by Nick Gould)Exploring Conservancy Universal Access Trails Responsibly
In order to best protect and respect our trails, preserves, neighbors, and fellow outdoor explorers, please consider the following:
- Respect preserve neighbors. Park only in designated parking lots. If a parking lot is full, please visit another preserve. If a lot for a preserve with a universal access (UA) trail is nearly full and you are able to utilize trails that are not universally accessible, consider finding another hiking spot and leaving room for those most in need of access to UA trails.
- Horses and bikes are not allowed on the Lloyd Clark Trail, as they can damage the trail surface. Please use hiking poles gently to avoid damaging the trail surface, as well.
- Group events with more than 15 people on Lancaster Conservancy preserves require Conservancy approval. Please fill out this request form if you are interested in hosting an event on a Conservancy nature preserve.
- Music, drones, and other amplified sounds are not allowed on Conservancy preserves.
- Dogs are welcome to visit our preserves with you, but they must remain on leash at all times – for your safety, their safety, the wildlife’s safety, and the safety and comfort of other human and animal visitors. Please clean up all dog waste and take it home with you for disposal.
- Please be good to our natural lands so they can remain refuges for people and for wildlife. These wild places are special, and we must explore them with respect for both our fellow human visitors and the plants, animals, and other organisms who call these spaces home.
For a full list of Lancaster Conservancy preserve rules and regulations, please see this webpage. To learn more about exploring outdoors responsibly by following Leave No Trace principles, visit this post.
