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Accessing Nature: Accessibility Frameworks and Strategies for Vermont Town Forests
Haas, Ann
Haas, Ann
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Abstract
Natural areas provide visitors a host of health benefits, facilitate community bonds, and foster connections to nature and the land. In Vermont, the majority of Vermont’s 251 municipalities own at least one town forest, forested natural areas that range from five acres to over 1,000 acres and provide wildlife habitat, recreation and education opportunities, watershed protection, forest products, and cultural significance, among many benefits. Recreation is the most common management objective for town forests; in order to achieve the goal of equitable recreational use of town forests for all people, the accessibility of these spaces must be considered. However, ensuring access to these publicly owned areas for people of all abilities is the most commonly reported challenge by stewards of town forests. Spatial accessibility refers to how logistically difficult it is to utilize a greenspace; this includes factors such as how far it is located from people’s homes or town centers, the condition of roads leading to the space, the availability of parking, the presence of maintained trails within the greenspace, and other physical characteristics of the space. Perceived accessibility refers to how people feel about a greenspace, including how easy it is to access and how desirable and socially acceptable it is to visit the space. This thesis utilized mixed methods of case studies and review of Vermont Town Forest Census responses to provide a framework for understanding town forest accessibility through both spatial and perceived accessibility lenses. Findings show that accessibility in town forests is as variable and diverse as the history and uses of the forests themselves. Common challenges reported regarding accessibility include difficulty building and maintaining trail systems, poor road access to the forest by road, and lack of parking at the forest. Many forests indicated interest in receiving help in improving accessibility. Strategies for improvement of accessibility may include peer learning, partnerships with non-profits, and the creation and use of individualized management plans for forests.
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2026-05-08
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Final Thesis - Scholarworks submission.pdf
Adobe PDF, 2.95 MB
- Embargoed until 2027-05-12
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Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources