By Megan Richley
Metro Parks, Inclusion Program Coordinator

I am really excited to share with you a new Metro Parks resource that will be available beginning Oct. 1. With the help from our wonderful Friends of Metro Parks, we have purchased a GRIT All Terrain Freedom Chair 3.0. This wheelchair is built for various outdoor terrains where a typical wheelchair is unable to go.

The wheelchair is designed with push levers that the user uses to pump the wheelchair forward and is equipped with mountain bike-style tires to go through water, mud, and gravel terrain! For more in-depth information about how this chair functions and for testimonials/videos, check out the website: GRIT – The All-Terrain Wheelchair Built for Active Lives

The chair will be on a rotating location schedule. It will move every two months to one of our nature centers where users can sign up to check out the chair in one to four hour time blocks. To sign up, please email mlrichley@metroparks.net

The rotating schedule is as follows:

October, November 2025 – Highbanks Metro Park

December 2025, January 2026 – Blacklick Woods Metro Park

February, March 2026 – Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park

April, May 2026 – Blendon Woods Metro Park

Safety is a top priority and it is up to the user to thoroughly research and prepare themselves for using the chair. The GRIT website is very user friendly and has many videos explaining how to use the chair, transfers in and out of the chair, as well as other tips and tricks.

The chair may present a learning curve and we recommend bringing a hiking partner to assist in use, as well as beginning on flat, easy trails to acclimate to the chair. Metro Parks can provide an optional helmet for use.

This chair is ideal for adults between 4 feet 10 inches and 6 feet 8 inches, and under 300 pounds. The seat is 20 inches wide. The user must be able to transfer themselves in and out of the chair. The chair can be used for temporary or permanent wheelchair users. Footstraps are not included with the chair, but users may bring their own, as they can be used with the chair, if desired.

We are very excited to be offering this new resource and increasing accessibility in our park district. Please reach out to Megan Richley with any questions at mlrichley@metroparks.net