Chikaming Open Lands Launches Accessibility Initiative to Improve Access Across Preserves
Posted on January 22, 2026
Chikaming Open Lands (COL) has launched a new accessibility initiative aimed at improving access and inclusion across its network of nature preserves. As part of this effort, COL is partnering with students from the University of Chicago to gather community feedback through a short public survey.
The survey is designed to better understand how people experience COL preserves and to identify barriers that may limit access - whether physical, cultural, informational, or otherwise. Feedback gathered will help inform improvements to existing preserves and guide planning for future properties and projects.
“We want our preserves to be welcoming and accessible to as many people as possible,” said Dan Engel, Stewardship Manager at Chikaming Open Lands. “Hearing directly from community members is essential to understanding what’s working and where we can do better.”
Survey participants are encouraged to reflect on aspects of COL preserves they found challenging during visits, as well as any barriers that have prevented them from visiting altogether.
The survey takes approximately five minutes to complete and will remain open through Friday, February 27. Community members are encouraged to share the survey widely to help COL collect diverse perspectives.
Take the survey: https://tinyurl.com/COLaccessibility
To offer additional feedback or if you would like to get more involved, please contact:
Mary Beth Pudup, University of Chicago: mbp@uchicago.edu
Dan Engel, Chikaming Open Lands Stewardship Manager: dengel@chikamingopenlands.org
