David’s Chair coming to Howard Buford Recreation Area (Mt. Pisgah) to make trails more accessible
David’s Chair provides FREE access to electric all-terrain track chairs that can help people with mobility challenges who otherwise would not be able to enjoy the park trails get out and explore. Wednesday’s tour will have five track chairs available for participants to test.
Later this summer, Lane County Parks will partner with Mount Pisgah Arboretum, McKenzie River Trust, David’s Chair and Travel Lane County to permanently place two track chairs at Howard Buford Recreation Area (HBRA).
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy and explore nature, and Mount Pisgah Arboretum is working with community partners to improve accessibility for the whole community,” said Arboretum Executive Director Brad van Appel. “We are thrilled that we can host the first David’s Chair in our area.”
The Arboretum is currently taking donations to match a generous gift that will bring a second David’s Chair to the park.
“We are excited to bring adaptive outdoor mobility to the Willamette Valley and look forward to a strong partnership focusing on making the outdoors more inclusive and accessible,” said David’s Chair founder and CEO Steve Furst. “We feel like we have struck gold with this partnership, and I am thankful for how dedicated everyone involved has been to make this a reality.”
Last year, Lane County partnered with David’s Chair to bring a track chair to Heceta Beach in Florence, which has been extraordinarily popular with beachgoers. David’s Chair currently has seven fixed site locations on the Oregon Coast and three tow-and-go locations.
The partnership for track chairs at HBRA was made possible, in large part, because of voter support of the Lane County Parks levy. The $12,500 provided by Lane County Parks will help provide maintenance funding for the chairs to ensure people can enjoy them for years to come. Mount Pisgah Arboretum, McKenzie River Trust, and Travel Lane County will also provide financial support.
About David’s Chair
David’s Chair was created in 2017 by friends David Hatrick and Steve Furst. Its mission is to give the gift of independence to people with ALS and other mobility challenges by providing them with access to track chairs and other adaptive recreation equipment capable of taking on the outdoors, including beaches. Learn more about David and the organization at www.davidschair.org.