One of our family priorities is to spend as much time outside as possible. Throughout my life, I have found connection and beauty in nature, and I want Robert to enjoy the great outdoors too, even with his wheelchair and walker. Our tradition of finding space in nature is an important piece of our mother-son relationship and, as he grows, I hope he carries memories of our time outdoors with joy!
We recently moved to St. Louis, but many of our fondest memories were forged in our hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. Robert spent hours outside on his Mountain Trike (an all-terrain wheelchair with power-assist), where he cruised happily down the street to the mud puddles bordering our neighborhood. We often walked together too — these walks led to fun exploration and created an opportunity to talk. Robert grew up watching the dogwoods bloom in spring, listening to the cicadas in summer, hunting for the first tree to adopt the colors of fall, and celebrating the rare sighting of red fox fur amid the winter chill.
So, as we turn the page on our lives in Knoxville, I wanted to share some of our favorite outdoor spots — places where access exceeded our expectations and where we were given the opportunity to create memories!
The Cove at Concord Park
Located in West Knoxville, The Cove is part of the much larger, 500-acre Concord Park. Owned and operated by Knox County Parks and Recreation, the park features a paved waterfront trail, an accessible kayak launch, picnic tables, a public bathroom and a connection to more than two miles of nearby greenway trails. Additional information is available via the Knox County website.
Robert and I primarily visited The Cove to participate in adaptive kayaking events hosted by a local nonprofit and my former employer, Catalyst Sports. The organization provides a variety of adaptive equipment pieces to accommodate different disabilities, including tools that allowed John to kayak with only one hand. Adaptive Coordinators and trained volunteers attend the events to assist with boat outfitting and transfers. Robert and I used a tandem kayak and enjoyed paddling together; It allowed us to both experience freedom of movement in a different environment!
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Bordering the eastern side of Tennessee, The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for its wildlife diversity. The mountains are a bit of a drive from Knoxville itself (1.5 hours or more depending on trail choice), but I couldn't leave this beautiful site off our list! We enjoyed exploring the first two miles of Little River Trail on Robert's Mountain Trike — it is a truly serene experience that is worth the drive from the city.
Although the GSMNP trail description lists Elkmont Campground as the nearest accessible bathroom, it is not open year-round. The Sugarlands Visitor Center is a better choice; the public restroom is equipped with an accessible stall.
In tandem with Catalyst Sports, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has undertaken a multi-year effort to improve accessibility within the park. There are now all-terrain wheelchairs available for rent and seasonal ranger-led programs specific to the adaptive experience. The National Park Service website provides detailed information about these opportunities, as well as trail-specific accessibility information.
Seven Island State Birding Park
20 miles east of downtown Knoxville is a gem of a state park along the French Broad River. Established in 2014, the park includes the Bobwhite Accessible Trail that is paved from end-to-end (approximately 0.9 miles in length).
Here we witnessed some incredibly unique flora and fauna, including a full bloom Zinnia garden, spotted deer and observed many of the 220 species of birds that live in the habitat. We once had the unique opportunity to participate in Monarch Tagging as we witnessed the incredible fall migration of Monarch Butterflies across the region. The diversity of the landscape makes up for the otherwise short paved trail — we've found that the surrounding beauty makes us stretch the time longer than expected for what is a round-trip journey of less than two miles.
The park features two large bathrooms at the entrance to the Bobwhite Accessible Trailhead, noted on the map. Additional information to plan your visit can be found on the Seven Islands Birding State Park website.
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Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding (STAR)
STAR is a horse riding program certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International, located 27 miles southwest of downtown Knoxville. The program works with children and adults aged four to 65+ with physical, mental, and neurological disabilities or those considered at-risk. While this program is only suitable for those who live in the area, Robert spent weekly time outside and on horseback for more than three years.
STAR's adaptive programs empowered Robert to gain skills through equine groundwork, riding in the arena and gleaning general hippology knowledge along the way. One of his life goals is to own a horse that he can take out on trails to explore!
If you are local to the area and want to learn more about the adaptive horse riding programs, check out the Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding website.
City of Knoxville Greenways
Like many communities across the country, Knoxville has invested in the development and maintenance of more than 100 miles of paved greenway paths across the city and suburbs. There are many sections of greenway that we found ourselves on, but a few are worth the time as solo endeavors:
- Neyland Greenway — In the heart of downtown Knoxville, this stretch of the greenway sits along the Tennessee River. We found it easiest to park at Volunteer Landing, approximately 0.5 miles from the start of the greenway. From there, you will also have the option to connect to the James White Greenway.
- Jean Teague Greenway — This is the first greenway loop I remember visiting with Robert, with his stroller and stuffed Elmo in tow! It is an active stretch of the greenway system, connecting pedestrians to tennis and basketball courts, softball fields, a gazebo and a branch of the YMCA.
- Will Skelton Greenway — This section of the greenway technically begins at Island Home Park in South Knoxville, but we preferred to park and begin our exploration at Ijams Nature Center. The small, locals-favorite center has parking, bathrooms, and an entrance to the Will Skelton Greenway, which has views of the river and sunflower fields (typically blooming in July).
Detailed descriptions of these greenways, including directions and specific entrances can be found on the City of Knoxville website. Our three favorite greenway spots listed above have paved parking lots at the entrances, but not reliable public, accessible bathrooms. We have found our way around this by using a nearby bathroom before parking or timing it so that we don't have to use the facilities during our walk! Be sure to check out the map of the Knoxville greenway system.
Bonus: Wheelchair-Friendly Playgrounds
Robert has mostly outgrown playgrounds, but we have spent our fair share of time climbing on different play structures! While there aren't any playgrounds in the area that feel fully inclusive, there are some which offer accessibility features.
Check out these playgrounds in the Knoxville area:
- Ashley Nicole Dream Playground is an older playground, but we appreciated the multiple sections accessible via a ramp, with smooth surfacing throughout.
- The Hank Rappé Playground at Lakeshore Park worked well when Robert was smaller, as the ramp access is attached to a small play structure. The smooth rubber flooring makes it easy to roll around.
- McFee Park has a splash pad with a completely step-free experience and wide paths (the adjacent playground, however, is not accessible).
Each of these parks offered accessible parking and public bathrooms with wheelchair accessible stalls. The City of Knoxville playground listing provides information on the Ashley Nicole Dream Playground and the Hank Rappé Playground, including details about the larger parks each is located within. Specifics about the splash pad at McFee Park can be found via the Farragut Parks and Recreation website.
Final Thoughts
Experiencing beauty outdoors is not something I take for granted, especially because finding accessible outdoor spaces is not as straightforward as a Google search. Every outdoor adventure starts with initial research, but requires a willingness to take a risk and go — understanding, of course, that adaptation to the local environment may be necessary. In fact, I think the only way I've stayed in shape in adulthood is from the many piggy-back rides given to Robert on our "this isn't what we thought it would be" adventures.
If you have visited the Knoxville area, what are some outdoor spaces that you have enjoyed? Are there any solutions that you hope will provide greater access in the future? We want to hear from you and look forward to sharing more of our accessible outdoor adventures soon!
