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How the Huron-Clinton Metroparks are building systems where everyone belongs
By Huron-Clinton Metroparks
On a summer afternoon at Lower Huron Metropark in Wayne County, Mich., a father in a wheelchair rolls down a paved path to a fishing pier, casts a line, and waits for a bite beside his children. It’s an unremarkable scene, and that’s the point. Getting him there took intentional planning that most visitors will never notice—an accessible parking spot, a smooth route from car to pier, and an accessible restroom.
That intentionality and inclusivity is the work of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks, the largest regional park system in the state. The system spans 14 properties across five counties around Detroit—Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne—and boasts nearly 25,000 acres of woods, water, and recreational facilities. Every year, more than 7 million people visit the Metroparks to partake in year-round activities like swimming, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, boating, sledding, and more.
For a park system of that scale, meeting the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the floor, not the ceiling.
Creating accessible recreation and education opportunities doesn't happen by accident. They happen because of thoughtful planning and community engagement that requires looking at every part of the visitor experience and asking the question: how can everyone fully participate?
Janet Briles, Chief of Planning and Development for the Huron-Clinton Metroparks, uses that same fishing pier to explain the philosophy. The pier itself may be accessible, but that is only one part of the experience. Visitors also need accessible parking, a safe and clearly marked route from the parking lot to the pier, accessible restrooms and drinking fountains, and signage that allows them to comfortably and safely spend time in the park.
“We could just be compliant and call it a day. But to us, accessibility is more than that,” says Briles. “When we look at a project, we not only think about the feature itself but how the visitors' whole time at the park would look. If we’re upgrading a fishing pier, we’re also thinking about how someone gets from their vehicle to that pier, whether the route is accessible, if signage is clear and in high contrast, whether restrooms and other amenities are easy to use. The whole experience needs to feel thought-out and from beginning to end.”
That whole-experience mindset shapes both new construction and renovations across the Metroparks system. With a mix of newer facilities and aging infrastructure, each project provides an opportunity to incorporate universal-design principles and address barriers that may prevent visitors from fully experiencing the parks. For park systems, this process can be an important shift. The Metroparks have found accessibility is often most successful when it is considered before construction begins, rather than corrected afterward.