Disability Dirt Days

About the Program

Category: Parks and Recreation (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

Oakland County Parks (OCP) is committed to providing individuals with disabilities access to parks and recreation activities that support physical, mental and social health. OCP staff work hard to develop accessible programming that connects people with their communities and provides opportunities to try new things. The inaugural Disability Dirt Day took place in October of 2021. The event paired volunteer ORV drivers with participants for thrilling rides around Holly Oaks ORV Park, which offers extreme terrain for off-road vehicles. After the success of the first event, OCP made it a recurring event series. OCP’s 2022 Disability Dirt Days were held on May 15, June 12, September 25 and October 23. Between participants and family members, the event series drew 588 people. Disability Dirt Days reach an often-underserved community that deserves – but does not always have easy access to – high quality, diverse recreation opportunities. This event series embodies the spirit of one of OCP’s four core values: “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,” which prioritizes grounding organizational actions and decisions in equity and justice with the overarching goal of providing parks and recreation services that feel safe and welcoming to everyone. Four more Disability Dirt Days are planned for 2023.