The Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced the opening of a new Braille Trail at Wingfoot Lake State Park, providing an accessible outdoor experience. The trail features signage with printed text and braille, along with a self-guiding rope and educational panels highlighting local wildlife.
According to ODNR Director Mary Mertz, the trail aims to make Ohio's natural spaces welcoming to everyone, ensuring that more people can enjoy nature in a way that meets their needs.
Press Release: Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Reproduced in full from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Braille Trail Brings Inclusive, Interactive Nature Experience to Wingfoot Lake State Park
MOGADORE, Ohio, The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is proud to announce the opening of a new Braille Trail at Wingfoot Lake State Park, offering a first-of-its-kind accessible outdoor experience within the Ohio State Parks system. The trail features signage with both printed text and braille, enhancing opportunities for visitors of all abilities to explore nature in meaningful, engaging ways.
Developed from a previously existing earthen meadow trail, the new 36 inch-wide gravel path provides significantly improved accessibility for visitors with mobility, visual, or sensory needs. Located near the park’s Nature Center, the quarter mile loop trail begins near two accessible parking spots for easy entry.
“This trail represents ODNR’s continued commitment to making Ohio’s natural spaces open and welcoming to everyone,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “Wingfoot Lake State Park has always been a place for families and community, and the new Braille Trail ensures that more people can enjoy nature in a way that meets their needs and enriches their experience.”
The trail features a self-guiding rope that allows individuals to follow the path independently while interacting with “Spotty,” a salamander character who serves as the Braille Trail Ambassador Guide. Along the loop, six educational panels highlight wildlife and natural features such as white-tailed deer, bald eagles, meadows, and local landmarks like the Goodyear Blimp. Each panel incorporates 3D printed tactile elements, making this one of the first trail systems in Ohio to use sustainable materials for accessible interpretation. An audible trail option, activated through QR codes placed on each panel, provides spoken content for visitors with low vision or blindness.
“When we started thinking about this project, the goal was simple,” Wingfoot Lake Park manager Mike Studeny said. “I wanted to create a place where everyone felt welcome and where individuals could discover nature in different ways that were meaningful to them. My hope is that every visitor feels Wingfoot Lake State Park is a place of possibilities, a place where everyone belongs and has the opportunity to discover the outdoors in their own way.”
The Braille Trail was made possible through generous support from the Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities, which awarded a $25,000 grant to help fund the project. Additional contributions came from Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Unlimited Play, and accessibility advocates and consultants who played critical roles in shaping the trail’s design and content.
In addition to the trail, Wingfoot Lake State Park has expanded its accessible offerings through the creation of a nearby Shaded Play Pad. Funded with additional support from the Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the play area features imaginative and sensory play equipment, ADA accessible picnic benches, and a children’s swing set. Located just 400 feet from the trail in Pine Tree Field, the new space offers families another option to play, learn, and connect while outdoors.
“The Braille Trail at Wingfoot Lake is a shining example of what accessibility and collaboration can achieve,” Mertz added. “We look forward to continuing this work across Ohio State Parks as we expand opportunities for everyone to experience Ohio’s natural wonders.”
Located just outside Akron, Wingfoot Lake State Park offers visitors a relaxing escape surrounded by groves of tall trees, wide open grassy areas, and a picturesque lake perfect for paddling or fishing. Once owned by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, this day-use park became part of the Ohio State Parks system in 2009. On clear days, visitors can spot the iconic Goodyear Blimp resting in its hangar along the lake’s south shore. With six large picnic shelters, some featuring stone fireplaces, along with trails, ball courts, and both a disc golf and miniature golf course, Wingfoot Lake provides a beautiful and welcoming setting for gatherings, recreation, and time spent in nature.
Recognized as the No. 1 state park system in America with the 2025 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management, the ODNR Division of Parks and Watercraft provides exceptional outdoor recreation and boating opportunities by balancing outstanding customer service, education, and conservation of Ohio’s 76 state parks and waterways.
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.
