We need someone with experience in designing, installing or managing accessible (wheelchair friendly) nature trails. The installation of the accessible walkway and boardwalk between Port Elizabeth's Kings Beach and The Beacon is progressing well. The next phase will be to design the Humpback Dolphin Sanctuary and nature trail along the coastline between the Beacon at Admiralty Drive and Flat Rocks with completion 1 Dec 2006. The entire nature trail will be wheelchair friendly, but there are some serious challenges in getting the gradients to work with the height of the dunes climbing to 12 metres in a number of places.

 

This nature trail will offer the adventurous wheelchair user some of the most spectacular coastal scenery with environmental informational signage, lighting, security cameras and cleaning of the bush to improve safety. We believe that this nature trail, linking with the coastal walkways and boardwalks along our beachfront will offer some of the country's most extensive facilities for persons with physical disabilities. We would like to hear from anyone who has had experience with accessible trails in coastal or forest environments. The project has a tight time scale so we look forward to hearing from you soon.