October 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 42

AUT I SM TRA I L
items and experiences that paralleled
the design of the trail. Examples
included online autism consultations
with experts in the field and
consultations
of sensory-friendly
playground equipment. Because it
was held online, word of the ANT
spread around the globe. To date,
$3.2 million has been raised.
As fundraising efforts continued,
the aunts encouraged partners to
join them by inviting community
members to meetings to learn
about the project. Daryl McLaughlin,
superintendent of Perry Central
School District in nearby Perry,
New York, remembers meeting the
aunts. " They were a force. They
were amazing, and had the 'wow'
factor, " he says. It only took that
one meeting for McLaughlin to be
convinced his school district needed
to be a part of this one-of-a-kind
project. " I was thinking of the ultimate
long game, both educational
and economic, " says McLaughlin.
" When you consider mission statements
of schools and businesses,
isn't the number one mission to
improve the quality of life? If it is,
we should all move forward on the
same path. This project engaged
local partners on a path to have a
global impact. "
The School Board of Perry Central
Schools unanimously agreed
to create an ANT coordinator position.
Now, Perry Central Schools
coordinates the ANT website, and
will help set up and coordinate
visitors, promote events on social
media, meet with the park about
maintenance, and help facilitate
community
cations may be needed. Camp Puzzle
Peace also will help create videos
and social stories that outline
what the trail looks like, and who
will be there. These accommodations
can greatly help visitors on
the autism spectrum.
Briley
planned considerations
are
insists these carefully
what
service opportunities
for the trail.
Jen Hackett, executive director
and founder of Camp Puzzle Peace
(tinyurl.com/ydwp5xce),
will develop
programming events at the
trail and provide materials. In addition,
the organization will provide
trail guides, and when making reservations,
families can let the trail
guides know exactly what modifimade
it possible to move forward
with the trail. The aunts were not
only thinking of what the trail would
and could look like, but they also
were considering how the trail would
be maintained and utilized. " Otherwise, "
Briley states, " we're just building
a nice trail in a nice park. "
The Groundbreaking
With $3 million of the funding committed,
a COVID-style groundbreaking
was held on February 19, 2021.
Activities along the trail are fun
for all visitors, not just those on the
spectrum. The one-mile trail begins
and ends in the same location, providing
predictability. Videos and
pictures can be viewed ahead of
time, and well-marked, yet understated,
signs clearly mark different
aspects of the trail. This is a critical
component for many on the spectrum
because the unknown can
cause great anxiety.
Eight sensory stations help develop
auditory, visual, tactile and
balance processing. One example
is a music station, where visitors
can play with instruments made
from nature. Musicians can control
the sounds they create and the volume
at which the sounds are made.
At another station, a meadow run
and climb allows running, jumping,
climbing and balancing, which
helps improve awareness of one's
The one-mile trail begins and ends
in the same location, at the Trailhead
Pavilion, providing predictability.
42 Parks & Recreation | O CTOBER 2 0 2 1
| PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN KUCKO
http://www.tinyurl.com/ydwp5xce
October 2021 - Parks & Recreation

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