Trail obstacle

To the editor:

There was a good article about Rock Springs Nature Trail in the Sept. 7 TimesDaily.

On Labor Day, my wife and I were looking for that chance to get close to nature close to home. We picked Rock Springs as a good place for a good fresh air outing.

We did not go very far down the trail when we ran into an obstacle that put an end to our outing. There was a very good picture of it in the article. That is the stepping stones to cross Colbert Creek. Our problem was, my wife is handicapped and must use a wheel chair to get around. My wife's power chair could not cross the stepping stones or run through the water. Our outing quickly came to an end at that point without being able to see any of the nature trail.

A wheelchair is not the only thing that could prevent going across the stepping stones. Any equipment a handicapped person used to assist in walking or balance, such as cane, walker or crutches, would prevent them from crossing the stepping stones.

The obstacle could easily be overcome by building flooring over the stones, with rustic sides designed to fit into the area. I do not believe the expense of building it would be that great. In the end it would not only make the trail handicapped accessible, it would make it safer for the general public by preventing the possibility of slipping or falling off the rock piers.

Robert D. Johnson

Allsboro