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DEC Seeks Public Input on Draft Policy to Improve
Access to Outdoor Recreation for People with Disabilities
Published: January 09, 2026
at 12:30 p.m.
By: Press Release
from NYS DEC
DEC Seeks Public Input on Draft Policy to Improve
Access to Outdoor Recreation for People with Disabilities
New Policy Provides Framework for Identifying
Opportunities for the Use of Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices
Written Comments Accepted until Monday, March 9;
Virtual Public Meeting on Wednesday, February 4
New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton has
announced the release of a draft Commissioner Policy to improve access to
the outdoors for people with mobility disabilities. The proposed policy
guides the use of Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMDs) on
DEC-managed lands by consolidating and streamlining several existing DEC
policies and procedures and establishes a framework to identify
new opportunities for the use of OPDMDs by people with mobility
disabilities.
“DEC manages
nearly 5 million acres of land to conserve natural resources while
providing diverse outdoor recreational opportunities, from hiking and
bicycling, to camping and hunting,” Commissioner Lefton said. “Forests
and natural areas provide physical and mental health benefits to millions
of New Yorkers and this proposed policy would
improve transparency and help ensure those benefits are available to people
of all abilities.”
DEC welcomes all
visitors to explore State lands and is committed to providing an
ever-increasing range of accessible outdoor recreation opportunities. The
new policy is part of DEC’s ongoing efforts to making
reasonable modifications to the State’s general policies, practices, and
procedures to ensure that people with disabilities are afforded equitable
access, without taking any action that would fundamentally alter the nature
of its programs, services, or activities.
OPDMDs are
battery or fuel-powered devices, other than wheelchairs,
used for locomotion - including golf carts, scooters, e-bikes, and other
personal mobility devices. DEC currently administers an accommodation
program for people with mobility disabilities and is committed to
advancing accessibility for people with disabilities.
The new draft
policy is intended to replace Commissioner Policy 3
(Motorized Access Program for People with Disabilities), continuing the
permitted opportunities identified under that policy for cars, trucks, and
ATVs, while also expanding opportunities for a wider range of devices.
The proposal
provides clear information about public recreation opportunities that allow
OPDMD uses in select locations across the state, provide guidance for
evaluating additional device uses over time. The proposal also identifies
areas of DEC-managed lands where certain categories of OPDMDs would not be
allowed due to public safety issues, risks to natural resources, or other
concerns.
Written comments
on the draft policy will be accepted through March 9, 2026. DEC is also
hosting a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 6
p.m. for those interested in learning more. To register for the
public meeting, or to access the draft policy and provide comments, visit
DEC’s website.
For information
about DEC’s accessible recreation
destinations and explore the range of wheelchair-accessible
opportunities statewide, including an interactive online map to identify accessible
features on DEC lands, visit DEC’s website.
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