“I never thought I’d be out in the woods ever again,” I overheard my mom tell Danielle Garner, Trackchair Program coordinator at Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, as the three of us navigated Clayton Trail in Frick Park. “I forgot how amazing it feels to be out on a trail,” she said.
The Conservancy’s Trackchair Program is giving people with limited mobility, including my mother, a way to hike with loved ones.
The program launched in May, following a pilot last fall. It began with two Trackchairs — battery powered, all-terrain wheelchairs designed to help people navigate outdoor areas — and has since expanded to four chairs which can be used in Frick Park.
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s Trackchair Program Helps People With Limited Mobility Hike Through Frick Park
My mom and I went on frequent walks until just a few years ago. Washington’s Landing was one of our go-to spots in the city — thanks in part to its gravel pathways, not to mention the breathtaking river views — and we’d frequent North Park, with its many paved and off-road trails.
In 2023, my mom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. It was an unusual diagnosis for a woman in her late 50s; most people with MS are diagnosed in their early 20s after developing symptoms including overwhelming fatigue, numbness and tingling, vision problems, difficulty walking and balancing, muscle spasms and cognitive challenges. The symptoms and severity vary drastically from person to person and can change over time.
My mom started experiencing symptoms when I was nearing the end of college. She experienced unexplained muscle weakness and pain, trouble with balance and an unrelenting head pressure. One Saturday, we were walking together; she fell off a sidewalk curb and broke her ankle. The visit to the emergency room led to months of on-and-off hospitalizations, endless appointments with specialists, a battery of medical testing, and eventually, a diagnosis of MS.
There is no cure for MS; researchers are still working to understand what causes the disease. What they do know is that MS causes one’s immune system to attack the myelin sheath (the protective coating around your nerves), and that breakdown interrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body, causing a host of issues. Once you lose the myelin coating, there’s no way to get it back.
A Path Into the Woods for People With Mobility Issues
Multiple sclerosis has taken a lot from my mom. She can’t walk long distances without fatigue, and can’t get anywhere without a walker. We used to go on walks all the time — whether it was a short stroll in a residential neighborhood or a long trek on a vacation. Since her diagnosis, we’ve had to adjust our outings to work with her mobility needs.
We’ve both missed our nature walks — and I’m a semi-regular hiker now, so I’ve often wished she could accompany me on some of the weekend trips I take.
Then I found out about the Pittsburgh Park’s Conservancy’s Trackchair Program, which allows people with mobility issues and disabilities to experience nature in a new way.
How to Use an All-Terrain Trackchair at Frick Park
When we arrived at Frick, Garner was waiting with a Trackchair. She showed my mom how to use the chair, including the joystick controller that directs the movement and speed. First-time users are accompanied by a Conservancy staff member or volunteer during the outing, but can take future trips with just a family member, friend or support person. Anyone ages 5 and up with limited mobility can sign up (although those under 18 need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian).
Since launching, Garner says the program has received “extremely positive feedback,” with participants using the chairs for a variety of reasons.
“We’ve had a couple that were avid hikers, and there was a diagnosis that limited their mobility — so this is a way for them to still hike together,” Garner says. Others have used the chairs to explore trails with their grandchildren; the oldest user thus far was 97 years old.
Spreading the Trackchair Program Throughout the City
Plans are underway to expand the Trackchair Program to other Pittsburgh parks. Garner says the Conservancy “will continue to have meetings to see how we can incorporate the Trackchairs into other parks in Pittsburgh, so it could be more accessible for everyone. That is definitely one of our long-term goals.”
The Conservancy offers other free accessibility resources at Frick Park, including hiking poles, Yaktrax traction devices, Rollz rollators, sensory bags, adaptors and supports for mobility devices, binoculars, EnChroma glasses for colorblindness and more.
Once our walk ended, my mom and I were ready to book our next outing and are confident we can navigate the Trackchair through the park.
It’d been three years since my mom was surrounded by trees, away from concrete and cars, able to see rays of light filtering through leaves. Now, thanks to the Trackchair Program, she made her way back into nature with her daughter.
Story and Photography by Rachel Windsor