CONCORD , NH — Governor John Lynch presented Crotched Mountain Foundation with the 2011 Governor's Accessibility Award in recognition of its new accessible hiking trails at a ceremony in the Executive Council Chamber on July 26, 2011. The award also recognized the nonprofit for going above and beyond to remove barriers which bar persons with disabilities from participating in the mainstream of society. The Governor's Commission on Disabilities recommended the Foundation for this award.

"We are honored to have received this award for our new trail system, which allows people of all abilities to enjoy hiking in a mountainside environment," said Crotched Mountain Foundation president and CEO Donald Shumway. "We built the trails to the accessibility guidelines from the U.S. Forest Service, and are pleased to open them to the public." The trails are structured for easy mobility for everyone, including those using walkers, service animals, as well as those in wheelchairs or families with young children in strollers.

Governor John Lynch commented, "Crotched Mountain Foundation has diligently served people with a variety of disabilities and their families for nearly 60 years. It's wonderful that we have organizations like this that are so committed to helping others."

Crotched Mountain opened the accessible trails to the public on June 25, 2011. The Dutton Brook Trail is two miles round trip, while the Gregg Trail is approximately 1.6 miles round trip. The trails are the longest mountainside fully accessible trails in the United States and were featured on USAToday.com as a top ten travel story.

For information about Crotched Mountain Foundation's accessible trails, visit www.crotchedmountain.org/trails.

Crotched Mountain Foundation is a charitable organization whose mission is to serve individuals with disabilities and their families, embracing personal choice and development, and building communities of mutual support. Crotched Mountain provides specialized education, rehabilitation, community, and residential support services for more than 3,000 people, including individuals with disabilities and the elderly, living in New England and New York. For more information about Crotched Mountain, please visit crotchedmountain.org.

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