Opening The Outdoors To All
A walk through the woods. Running through an open field. Sitting under the shade of a tall tree and watching the world go by. The outdoors is meant to be enjoyed by everyone.
Equitable access to open space remains a top priority for Mount Grace, but our experience shows that the idea of ‘if you build it, they will come’ doesn’t always hold true. How and where we conserve land, the accessibility we provide, and the types of recreational experiences we offer all play a role in how people use these spaces.
Not everyone can jump in a car and drive half an hour for their favorite hike. Some folks will avoid areas with unclear parking; others will avoid poorly marked trails. And some people want a remote, challenging hiking experience, while others want a smooth, level, and firm trail that can accommodate a mobility device.
Understanding how vulnerable and underserved communities and demographics use open space and identifying what barriers exist to accessing open space was the impetus behind a collaboration between Mount Grace and Columbia University’s Applied Practice Experience (APEx) Program.
Listening and Learning
This past summer, Columbia student Martha Budwij interned at Mount Grace to help us address these information gaps. Through a series of stakeholder interviews, Marth has been learning and documenting how different communities engage with nature and what can separate a fantastic outdoor experience from a terrible one. She is learning what aspects of a recreational area can encourage or dissuade people from using it. And even what constraints may be preventing people from visiting the outdoors. Perhaps most importantly, she is helping build a roadmap for Mount Grace to address some of these barriers and needs through our future conservation, stewardship and outreach activities.
What We Heard
Preliminary results point to two key findings:
Access to open space is heavily influenced by where it is located and what infrastructure exists to get people there.
Many people are unaware of conserved lands close to where they live and work.
Other important themes highlight the significance of working with local organizations and community groups to develop programming that engages specific audiences, as well as events that encourage intergenerational experiences. Families want to spend time doing things together. Grandparents want opportunities to connect with grandchildren in nature.
And as was also noted in our recent work with Yale graduate students, increasing accessibility remains a critical priority. Not only do we need to provide trail experiences that meet the needs of older adults and those with mobility issues, but we also need to provide better information about trail conditions and features so that potential visitors can make informed decisions.
Many of these findings may seem intuitive, but the fact that these needs keep rising to the top in these conversations illustrates that organizations like Mount Grace can—and must—do more to meet community needs.
Mount Grace’s Next Steps
While we may not be able to drive people back and forth to our conservation areas, we can prioritize protecting land near local population centers. And though the rugged topography of the North Quabbin region doesn’t always lend itself to building accessible trails, those opportunities do exist—and with stewardship work and community volunteers we can make our open spaces more welcoming.
We also need to get the word out about the great places Mount Grace already protects. Did you know Mount Grace has the Whitney Memorial Forest—a 90-acre forest with great hiking just a few minutes’ walk from downtown Winchendon? Or that Eagle Reserve Conservation Area in Royalston offers an accessible trail overlooking the water with fantastic bird-watching?
Join Us
Our work with Martha and Columbia University has been very insightful. The need for connecting people with nature has never been greater—but the opportunity and potential for Mount Grace to meet this challenge is equally great. With support from volunteers, donors, and allies we can conserve the places that protect biodiversity and healthy forests while finding new ways for people to embrace the natural world. You can help us develop recreational trail across our region by signing up to become a volunteer today.