As better weather approaches, more people will be heading outdoors for sunshine, nature, and fresh air. It’s a great time of year, provided you can access the great outdoors in the first place.

“Accessibility” means different things to different people. For some, it’s about distance  — living too far from beaches or forest trails. For others, it’s about affordability, including entry fees, program costs, or equipment needs. But for a large segment of our population, the challenges are more fundamental and harder to overcome. People with disabilities face obstacles to access that aren’t within their control, barriers that can only be removed through action by public agencies, private landowners, or community consensus.

Disabilities can create a wide range of access issues related to mobility limitations, sensory sensitivities, neurodivergence, and visual or hearing impairments, just to name a few. Meanwhile, outdoor spaces in Rhode Island, and across New England, are managed by a patchwork of entities, from local parks departments and state parks to private land trusts and organizations such as the Audubon Society of Rhode Island and The Nature Conservancy, each of which helps steward outdoor spaces and access. Their resources and capacity to implement accessibility solutions vary widely, and while most are subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), compliance sometimes only meets the legal minimum.

While the ADA provides the civil rights foundation for accessibility, with Title II covering state and local government responsibilities, these protections don’t always ensure outdoor spaces are designed for a wide range of user needs. To effectively embrace an approach that improves accessibility for all, organizations and agencies responsible for outdoor recreation spaces can start by focusing on three important areas. The first step is to LEARN, in many cases from each other. Insights gained through evaluation and shared resources are then used to IMPROVE accessibility to our outdoor spaces. The final step for organizations and agencies in charge of outdoor recreation is to ADVOCATE so these improvements continue.

The good news is that much of this work is underway with shared learning already accelerating progress. For example, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management provides public information on accessibility across state parks and beaches, including accessible amenities and seasonal features designed to expand access.

Inclusive design is making a difference across Rhode Island’s parks and nature preserves. At Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown, the ADA‑compliant Universal Trail features a packed stone dust surface that transitions to boardwalks. The trail leads to overlooks of wildlife habitat, giving visitors of all abilities a way to enjoy nature without facing typical mobility barriers. In Providence, everyday access to green space can be expanded through places like Blackstone Boulevard Park, where paths with different surfaces support walking, rolling, and biking.

While DEM provides public information and accessible amenities across Rhode Island, the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), produced by DEM, outlines a long-term vision for investment and priorities across parks, trails, and open spaces. These planning resources don’t just offer templates; they foster collaboration and shared understanding among communities, municipalities, and organizations working to improve outdoor accessibility.

Of course, learning alone isn’t enough. Action must follow. That begins with a thorough evaluation of existing conditions. Municipalities can identify barriers to access across facilities, programs, and services through comprehensive plans that have a strong focus on accessibility — and use those findings to guide improvements over time. These plans can serve as roadmaps for transforming public spaces into truly inclusive environments, unlocking future funding for design and construction.

Finally, we need to advocate consistently as part of a concerted effort. Local planners can push to make accessibility a standard practice and secure the funding to develop it. At the community level, accessibility upgrades often require public support, especially when funding depends on voter approval or competitive grants. Outreach, education, and visibility are essential.

This is also where community partners have a role to play. In Providence, organizations like RAMP (Real Access Motivates Progress) have helped keep accessibility and inclusion visible, reminding the public that access is not a niche issue, but a community value.

The benefits of time spent outdoors  — physical, emotional, and social — are well documented. During the COVID-19 pandemic, public parks and open spaces enjoyed a renaissance of interest, allowing people to connect with nature, family, and community. These benefits should not be a privilege for some. They should be a basic right for all.

Accessible outdoor spaces aren’t just about ramps, signage, or surface materials. They’re about inclusion, equal opportunity, and shared experience. Accessibility is the law. But it’s also the right thing to do — and it’s the responsibility of people without disabilities to ensure these changes take place.

Let’s learn from each other, improve what we have and advocate for what’s next for the benefit of all.

Nate Kelly is president of the Horsley Witten Group.