Accessibility at Our Wildlife Sanctuaries
To best meet the needs of all our visitors, and to invite everyone to connect with the natural world, Mass Audubon is working to make our wildlife sanctuaries with nature centers universally accessible. This includes ADA-compliant Nature Centers and universally accessible All Persons Trails.
Accessible Nature Centers
Our 20 nature centers, many of which were older private estates, have been renovated with ADA-compliant parking and entrances, admission areas, educational activity spaces, exhibits, galleries, and restrooms.
Sensory Trail sign about a pond
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All Persons Trail at Broad Meadow Brook
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Wildlife Sanctuary Policies |
All Persons Trails
What began in 2008 with the construction of a pilot “sensory trail” at Stony Brook in Norfolk has evolved into Mass Audubon’s Accessible Interpretive Trails Project, funded by Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
To date, Mass Audubon has developed and installed 12 ADA All Persons Trails at wildlife sanctuaries across the state. These trails are designed and constructed first to physically meet or exceed Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, and then to incorporate universally designed interpretive features including educational stops, wildlife viewing boardwalks and platforms, picnic and play areas, and navigation resources including audio directions, guide ropes, curbing, and handrails.
All Persons Trails are typically 0.5-0.75 miles in length and include:
- Smooth, gentle grades for improved access by foot, stroller, or wheelchair
- Sensory-rich audio tours (available by cell phone and/or audio players)
- Braille texts and tactile maps
- Tour booklets and maps designed for high readability for visually impaired and sighted visitors
- Improved signage (also Braille) along trails
- Wider boardwalks with bumpers as needed
- Post-and-rope guiding systems
- Interpretive content focusing on the natural and cultural history of each site
- Accessible outdoor wildlife observation structures, specialized gardens, seating, play areas, and picnic areas
Sanctuaries With Accessible Features
Greater Boston |
North Shore |
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| Blue Hills, Milton | 
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Ipswich River, Topsfield |
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| Boston Nature Center, Mattapan |
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Joppa Flats, Newburyport |
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| Broadmoor, Natick |
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Cape Cod and Islands |
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| Drumlin Farm, Lincoln |
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Felix Neck, Edgartown |
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| Habitat, Belmont |
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Wellfleet Bay, South Wellfleet |
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| MABA, Canton |
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Berkshires |
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| Moose Hill, Sharon |
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Pleasant Valley, Lenox |
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| Stony Brook, Norfolk |
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Central Massachusetts |
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South of Boston |
Broad Meadow Brook, Worcester |
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| Allens Pond, Dartmouth |
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Wachusett Meadow, Princeton |
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| Attleboro Springs, Attleboro |
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Connecticut River Valley |
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| Daniel Webster, Marshfield |
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Arcadia, Easthampton & Northampton |
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| North River, Marshfield |
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| Oak Knoll, Attleboro |
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Universally Accessible Nature Center/Museum | |
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Universally Accessible Restrooms | |
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Universally Accessible Trail | |