Plan Your Visit
Accessibility
Summit Metro Parks are for everyone.
We strive to provide safe and enjoyable park experiences, programs, services and activities for all, and are dedicated to continuous improvement. Review resources available below and please contact us with feedback.
Visiting Parks & Trails
Trails on the park district’s annual Spree for All event have been designated as accessible for visitors with limited mobility and those who use wheelchairs, walkers, canes or strollers. Power wheelchairs and scooters are permitted on lawn areas, at the discretion of the user based on the ability of the mobility device and the current ground conditions.
Nature Realm Visitors Center, Liberty Park Nature Center, Summit Lake Nature Center and all lodges in the park district are accessible according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Kulture City Certification
Summit Metro Parks is proud to partner with KultureCity® as part of its Sensory Inclusive™ program to make the park district’s parks, public buildings, and programs and events sensory inclusive. The certification process required that Summit Metro Parks staff be trained by leading medical and neurodivergent professionals on how to recognize visitors with sensory needs and how to handle a sensory overload situation.
Sensory bags, equipped with noise canceling headphones (provided by Puro Sound Labs), fidget tools, verbal cue cards and weighted lap pads, are available at the park district’s public buildings to all guests who may feel overwhelmed by the environment. Social Stories are also available in the following links to help you best prepare for your visit to Summit Metro Parks:
- Administrative Offices
- F.A Seiberling Nature Realm
- Liberty Park Nature Center
- Summit Lake Nature Center
Prior to visiting an SMP nature or visitors center, families can download the free KultureCity® app to view what sensory features are available and where they can be accessed. Also available on the app is the Social Story which will provide a preview of what to expect while visiting each Summit Metro Parks building.
Community Partnerships
Summit Metro Parks is proud to be affiliated with designations from Akron-Summit Age Friendly and Dementia Friendly Summit County, furthering our mission of making parks and trails accessible to everyone.
Programs & Events
Park staff can adapt many programs to be accessible to all who would like to participate. Please make the request at the time of registration and/or at least 72 hours prior to the program by calling 330-865-8065.
Cycling without Age
“Cycling without Age” trishaw bikes carry riders with limited mobility on a bench seat for an unobstructed view of nature and feeling of riding a bike in the outdoors. They are currently available at Music by the Lake concerts at Munroe Falls Metro Park throughout the summer months. You can view upcoming concerts on our Programs & Events calendar.
Website & Educational Materials
The Summit Metro Parks website has been designed to meet AA standards of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) set by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The park district strives to provide alt text and video captioning for its social media and makes text-only versions of Green Islands magazine available online.