Coalition for Recreational Trails

Accessibility Enhancement

Camp ASCCA Environmental Trail - Alabama

Camp ASCCA is the largest service provider in the state of Alabama for children and adults with disabilities.

Camp ASCCA's first official year of operation was in 1976 when 323 individuals with disabilities participated in ASCCA programs. By 2001 that number had grown to 10,000 children and adults with an additional 5,000 transient day-use visitors. In 2002, Camp ASCCA anticipated serving 18,000 overnight and transient day use clients.

The camp currently serves campers with asthma, attention deficit disorder, autism, cerebral palsy, diabetes, hearing impaired, heart condition, hemiplegia, hemophilia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, seizure disorder, shunt, sickle cell, spina bifida, spinal cord (paraplegic and quadriplegic), terminally ill, visually impaired, learning disabled, dyslexia, mentally disabled (mild, moderate and severe), and non-disabled. This is accomplished through a safe and quality program of camping, recreation, and education in a year-round barrier-free environment.

Many campers representing a wide range and degree of disability including those with severe and profound disabilities will have access to and use of trails, with assistance from ASCCA's year-round attendant staff.

This accessibility project consisted of developing 1,000 ft. of elevated trails with Weather Best Deck Material. The deck material consists of 2" by 6" wood-plastic composite produced by L.P. Wood Polymers, Inc., of Selma, Alabama. The elevated trails will be constructed on steel or treated wood pilings.

In addition, 1,000 ft. of ground trails will be constructed out of number 57 granite crusher base and will be finished with a special mix quarter inch to dust crusher run and lime mix. Landscape timbers will be used for elevation change landscaping. Finally, 1.9 miles of existing trails will be improved as necessary for safety and/or accessibility.

Assisting in this project is AmeriCorps' National Civilian Community Corps located in Charleston, SC. AmeriCorps volunteers have contributed in excess of $20,000 toward the trail improvements at Camp ASCCA.