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TALLAHASSEE – Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Office of Greenways & Trails (OGT) Director Jena
Brooks today accepted an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Award from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities and local
disability organizations. The award, presented during an ADA 18th Anniversary Celebration at the Capitol, recognizes the
Department’s efforts to increase accessibility and recreational opportunities at its greenways, trails and other state managed
lands. OGT received the award for its work with the Felburn Foundation to construct Boundless Playgrounds® on the
Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail and the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway.
“I am especially pleased that we could recognize a fellow state agency for its commitment to the spirit of the ADA,” said Agency
for Persons with Disabilities Interim Director Jim DeBeaugrine. “It is important for all government agencies to embrace inclusion,
and DEP's Office of Greenways and Trails has done that with its two Boundless Playgrounds®. It means so much for children of all
abilities to be able to play together and these facilities ensure that can happen.”
With a donation from the nature-based Felburn Foundation, OGT constructed Boundless Playgrounds® on the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross
Florida Greenway in 2005 and on the Tallahassee-St. Marks State Trail last month. The specially designed playgrounds provide
recreational and education opportunities for children with and without disabilities. Simple differences in these accessible
playgrounds as compared to traditional playgrounds include a poured-in-place rubber surface, ramps on the play sets, elevated
sand table and activity panels and swings and bouncers with high-back support.
“All children should have access to outdoor recreation and this concept is a key component of OGT’s facilitation of a statewide
system of greenways and trails in Florida,” said OGT Director Jena Brooks. “Thanks to the generous support of the Felburn
Foundation, we are able to provide these accessible playgrounds on two of our properties. When we see the exuberance of the
families making use of these facilities, we are inspired to work towards building additional barrier-free playgrounds in the
future.”
DEP is committed to serving the needs of all of its citizens and visitors, and strives to uphold the spirit of the ADA.
Construction of Boundless Playgrounds® on DEP’s greenways and trails is one way the Department continues to ensure that its
programs, activities, employment opportunities and services are available to all persons, including persons with disabilities.
For more information about DEP’s Accessibility Policy,
visit www.dep.state.fl.us/menu/nav_elements/accessibility_statement.htm.
DEP’s Office of Greenways & Trails works to establish a statewide system of greenways and trails for recreation, conservation and
alternative transportation and manages eight state trails, in addition to the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. The
Greenway is Florida’s longest green corridor stretching 110 miles from the St. Johns River near Palatka to the Gulf of Mexico
near Inglis. Of the eight state trails, six are rail-trails, railroad corridors converted to recreational trails for hiking,
biking, skating and equestrian activities. For more information on Florida’s greenways and trails,
visit www.FloridaGreenwaysAndTrails.com.
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