Making Pine Street Woods more accessible

If you’ve been to Pine Street Woods, did you ever wonder if the trails are in compliance with the American Disability Act? Likely not. But the Kaniksu Land Trust folks are thinking seriously about that very connection.

In fact, KLT is one of only 10 land trusts nationwide to receive a Land Trust Alliance’s 2024 Partnerships for Disability Access, Inclusion, and Leadership Grant.

The 4,000 land trusts around the country understand that being outdoors – even for a short time on a regular basis – offers a valuable space for people to enhance their health and wellness. These benefits can be seen in better overall health through exercise to reducing stress levels in the presence of nature.

The Land Trust Alliance understands these benefits aren’t as accessible for persons living with disabilities. This one-year, $15,000 grant will let Kaniksu Land Trust explore and implement programs to help PSW become more accessible to persons with physical and/or mental disabilities.  

This effort just may fulfill the hope of many persons who would like to visit PSW but are reluctant because the trails aren’t as accessible as they would need to be.  

One caregiver and frequent PSW visitor described that hope this way: “We used the accessible trail with the wheelchair often. It just made us so happy to have handicapped parking and a good-sized bathroom and an accessible trail. I can’t tell you enough how much this meant to us to have an opportunity to be in nature.”       

Everyone can benefit from that opportunity to “be in nature." And that is one of the driving motivations of Kayla Mosher to implement this new grant. Kayla is KLT’s Montana Outreach Coordinator and lives with her family in Thompson Falls, MT.  

Kayla’s personal and professional experiences have focused on being a champion for inclusion of all kinds for persons with disabilities. Now she is taking her passion to Pine Street Woods. Kayla is already connecting with local groups, like Sandpoint Parks and Recreation Dept., to develop a coalition that will continue the project long after the grant is completed.  

So, the Geezer Forum’s first meeting of the “Geezer Season” (September through May) will give us a chance to learn about that effort. We will meet at PSW on Sept. 10, 2:30-4 p.m.  

Kayla will be with us on Sept. 10 to expand our understanding of how the grant project will increase the chances for disabled persons to enjoy PSW in the future. During the Geezer Forum, she will invite us to give feedback on the actual accessibility needs we see at PSW.      

Getting that feedback will be instrumental for Kayla and KLT to lay out the fuller plan of how KLT wants to make Pine Street Woods more accessible. Additionally, she will explain more of the grant’s intent to create better access to the Woods’ trails.

The Geezer Forum hopes that individuals and groups that enjoy PSW – or would like to – will join us on September 10, 2:30-4:00 p.m. We will meet in the PSW parking lot. Benches will be available, but feel free to bring your own chairs.  

Come and breathe the fresh air of PSW, enjoy the tree views, and learn how the woods will, one day soon, be more accessible to all persons. 

 P.S.: Notice that I have changed my email address.

Paul Graves, M.Div., is lead geezer-in-training of Elder Advocates, a consulting ministry that deals with issues of aging. Contact Paul at 208-61-4971 or elderadvocates@gmail.com.