Colorado Springs’ free trackchair program is coming to Bluestem Prairie Open Space

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The City of Colorado Springs is bringing track chairs to Bluestem Prairie Open Space this October. 

The track chair program is a free and accessible opportunity for wheelchair users to hike in public parks that was started in 2021 by the City of Colorado Springs. It was first introduced to Colorado at Staunton State Park in 2017. 

The track chair is a souped up, motorized wheelchair with tank-like wheels that can be operated with a joystick on the armrest that allows wheelchair users to traverse a wide variety of terrains. Participants can register online and are required to bring a companion. A park ranger is required to accompany them on hikes.

The city plans to make track chairs available at Bluestem Prairie Open Space in the third week of October with hopes that the weather will be cooler. The prairie trails are often hotter than other more shaded hiking trails.

Although the track chair program had over 90 sign-ups this year, there were only 56 participants who actually attended their hikes. The city hopes that by offering new locations and trail options, more people will sign up for hikes. 

“We're starting to get more folks that are interested,” said Scott Bell, the track chair administrator for the City of Colorado Springs. “By having more hikes, we can expand into different properties because we want that diversity of the properties also so that folks will come back for another hike.”

Similar track chair programs are available at some Colorado state parks, including Ridgway State Park and Staunton State Park. 

Bluestem Prairie Open Space, operated by the City of Colorado Springs, provides 650 acres of grassland that is popular among bird-watchers. The city’s track chair program currently has three chairs available that rotate to different locations: Red Rock Canyon, Blodgett Open Space, and Ute Valley Park. 

A new trail option will also be added this October at Red Rock Canyon.

“If you experienced a tractor hike and you were like, that was too crazy of terrain for me, I didn't thoroughly enjoy the program at a given location, give the other locations a shot,” said Hayley Noneman, a park ranger with the city. 

“Because every single one is different, the terrain is different, the elevation gain is different, and the wildlife is different.”

Appointments and park schedules can be found at this link.