A new All Persons Trail breaking ground this year at Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary in Edgartown will make the Vineyard’s natural world more accessible than ever. The path is designed to welcome visitors of all abilities into the sanctuary’s landscapes—and community support is key to making it a reality.
Making Nature Accessible at Felix Neck
Felix Neck’s All Persons Trail (APT) will feature a self-guided, multi-sensory experience designed to engage visitors of all abilities. The trail will include materials in multiple formats—including braille and audio—along with tactile displays, accessible wildlife viewing areas, and multi-use seating spaces.
The APT will offer wide, even pathways with accessible stops, including an accessible osprey viewing area and improved Waterfowl Pond bird blind. These stops will be fully graded and surfaced to support multi-use accessible seating. The entire trail will be resurfaced with crushed stone to accommodate visitors of all abilities and provide smooth, accessible passage for wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, and other mobility devices.
To further enhance accessibility, the project will incorporate tactile elements and a post-and-rope guide system for visitors with low or no vision. Round beads on the guide rope will mark interpretive stops, while square beads will indicate nearby seating. Interpretive signage and materials will be available in English, Brazilian Portuguese, and braille.
This work builds on Felix Neck’s long-standing commitment to accessibility. More than 25 years ago, the sanctuary launched its Access Able Golf Cart tour program, which provides guided tours for visitors with limited mobility. Felix Neck also offers a GRIT Freedom Chair, walking poles, seat cane, and other materials and equipment to further expand access throughout the sanctuary.
Project Partners
Thanks to MassTrails’ generous $136,000 gift, this important work is officially underway. Mass Audubon is collaborating with Island groups, including Healthy Aging Martha's Vineyard, Vineyard Independence Partnership (VIP), MV Center for Living, local senior centers, Island Autism Group, and others to ensure trail designs meet community needs.
We are deeply grateful to MassTrails, as well as the Couch Family Foundation, Farm Neck Foundation, Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation, Edey Foundation, Slough Farm Foundation, Martha’s Vineyard Bank Charitable Foundation, Athletic Brewing, and the many individual donors who share the belief that nature—and the physical, mental, and emotional benefits it provides—should be accessible to everyone. Thanks to their generosity, 80% of the funding needed to bring this vision to life has already been secured.
Help Us Cross the Finish Line
With your support, the All Persons Trail will become an integral part of the broader Island landscape, ensuring that visitors of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds access nature connections at Felix Neck for generations to come.
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