Enjoying the Natural Beauty….HRM Trail System

HRM has developed a booklet outlining the trail system in HRM.  In the Get Out Check It Out Booklet, several trails that are confirmed as wheelchair accessible are noted.  These sections of trail are approximately one kilometre in length and are marked as a blue line on the trail maps.  The identified trail sections have been tested by a person who uses a manual wheelchair and are Phase I of a continuing process of making HRM trails wheelchair accessible.  Additional guaranteed accessible trails will be added in the future. 

Accessible Trails

• Beechville Lakeside Timberlea Trail
• St. Margaret’s Bay Rails to Trails
• DeWolf Park Boardwalk
• First Lake Glen Slauenwhite Trail
• Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk
• Halifax Urban Greenway
• McIntosh Run Community Trail

Halifax Public Gardens

The Halifax Public Gardens - one of the finest surviving examples of Victorian Gardens in North America - is wheelchair accessible and has a limited supply of wheelchairs available for public use.  Inquire at Horticultural Hall (located in the Gardens) for details.

Horticultural Hall is open 8 am to 4 pm until Victoria Day in May and again from mid-September to Thanksgiving in October.  From Victoria Day until mid-September, the hall is open from 8 am to dusk. 

For more information contact 420-1562.

The Gardens are open generally between May to November (weather dependent). 

Staying Active…. Recreation Facilities

HRM is currently working on a recreation accessibility directory.  Throughout HRM, we are working on refitting our facilities to make them more accessible. 

Inclusion…

Participation By All Welcomed and Encouraged

HRM Community Recreation Services is committed to providing safe and accessible services and activities for all persons.  Persons with special needs are welcome to attend any recreation activity compatible with their interests, abilities and needs.  The municipality views inclusion as a partnership between HRM staff and families.

• We meet family and individuals prior to the start of the program to identify appropriate program options and the supports required to assist the participant
• We will make every effort to accommodate support requirements based on HRM resources and service demands
• We encourage parents and/or individuals to visit the programs
• We provide program orientation and training to staff

HRM believes inclusive and accessible leisure services are essential to everyone’s quality of life.

Pools at HRM facilities with accessible features include:

Canada Games Centre

Designed to be Barrier-Free throughout the Centre.

Captain Spry Wave Pool

Fully accessible with a Nolan Lift, two aquatic Hippocampe chairs used to transport patrons directly into the ground level pool, accessible family change room and washrooms.

Centennial Pool

Therapeutic chair lift and EZ Ladder for entry to shallow water.

Bedford Lions Pool

Equipped with a Nolan Lift, accessible washrooms, and a ground level entry pool.

Inclusive Playgrounds

The Westmount Inclusive Playground Park (WIPP) in the West end of Halifax opened in 2006.  It was the first accessible playground equipped with an outdoor mobility challenge course in Canada.  The Central Common Playground Park in central Halifax was also retrofitted to be almost completely accessible that same year. 

To help open up the world of play for all children, HRM now has over 20 playgrounds that are either fully accessible or have elements of accessibility/inclusiveness. While many are located at school sites, others such as the Central Common Playground Park or one located on the Dartmouth Waterfront, are stand alone.

Accessibility factors into the development of new or in the revitalization of existing playground sites.

Sport and Recreation Inclusion Directory

The HRM Recreation catalogue contains a list of sport and recreation organizations for those with disabilities.