September Spotlight: Accessibility in Stokes County Parks

— Written by Savannah Meyers | September 9, 2021 (Updated: Sept. 9, 2021, 9:46 a.m.)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990. Prior to this, the majority of our public lands were not accessible to many American citizens.

Public lands include U.S. Forest Service national forests, U.S. Fish and Wildlife refuges, large portions of Bureau of Land Management Land, and national, state, and local parks.

Stokes County is home to Hanging Rock State Park, which is part of the Mountain-to-Sea Trail. The park also has access to five waterfalls and a mountain lake, and includes elevations of up to 2,580 feet.

For those with physical disabilities Hanging Rock State Park includes:

A five-foot-wide paved trail from the lake parking lot to the fishing pier
A paved trail to the Rock Garden
An ADA accessible picnic shelter
Twenty-three accessible parking spots
Three accessible restrooms
A level entrance to the visitor center
One wheelchair accessible campsite
Two wheel-chair accessible vacation cabins

The City of King operates Recreation Acres, which is a recreation park that includes baseball fields, soccer fields, and a walking track. The park also includes Everyone’s Playground. Everyone’s Playground is an all inclusive playground that features:

A wheelchair accessible swing
A wheelchair accessible merry-go-round
Sensory items
Therapeutic swings
And more!

Accessibility at State Parks

Recreation Acres

Access to Adventure

Americans with Disabilities Act