Freedom Trax expands wheelchair beach access at Doran Regional Park

Visitors who use manual wheelchairs now have greater access to the shoreline at Doran Regional Park as Sonoma County Regional Parks expands its Freedom Trax accessibility program.

Following a successful summer pilot program, Freedom Trax now can be reserved at no cost on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 15. The program will resume in spring 2027, after the winter storm season on the coast.

Freedom Trax, a motorized track system that works only with manual wheelchairs, allows a visitor to travel across soft, deep sand or other uneven outdoor surfaces. The visitor remains in their own manual wheelchair, which is secured to the Freedom Trax, and navigates using a joystick. The joystick can be operated by the wheelchair user or positioned at the back of the unit for a companion to control.

Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling Regional Parks’ office at 707-565-2041 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays or emailing Parks@SonomaCounty.gov. Drop-ins are welcome if equipment and personnel are available. 

Nearly 50 visitors have borrowed the equipment since the pilot program began.

“The response shows us how meaningful it is to remove barriers and give more people the freedom to experience the ocean,” said Nubia Padilla, Regional Parks’ accessibility and equity manager. “The simple pleasures of a day at the beach — crossing the sand, getting close to the water and exploring independently — are now within reach for more visitors.” 

One visitor, a double amputee who has used a wheelchair for 35 years, told park staff that Freedom Trax gave her a new sense of independence. She traveled to the end of the 2-mile beach without relying on her sister to push her through the sand. Now in their late 50s, the sisters had wondered how long they would be physically able to continue exploring the beach together.

The family of another Freedom Trax borrower shared that it was the first time the man had been on a beach — and the visit took place on his 47th birthday. Family members said they came from surrounding counties to join him as he explored Doran’s long shoreline.

One user, 93, said she quickly mastered the Freedom Trax joystick thanks to time spent playing video games with her grandchildren. She said she was especially pleased that her family didn’t have to push her wheelchair through the sand.

“This has been a deeply rewarding program to launch,” said Pam Higley, a park ranger assistant who staffs the check-out process. “We see the value and the joy that this accessibility opportunity creates for the public.”

Regional Parks and the nonprofit Sonoma County Parks Foundation collaborated on a grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy that funded three Freedom Trax units, which cost $7,500 each. The purchase was also supported in part by Parks for All — Measure M, the local sales tax that supports Sonoma County’s regional and city parks.

“A key role of the Parks Foundation is helping make Sonoma County Regional Parks more accessible and welcoming for everyone,” said Melissa Kelley, executive director of the Parks Foundation. “Freedom Trax is part of that work, along with accessible trails, kayak launches and beach wheelchairs. Support from funders like the Coastal Conservancy and individual donors makes these projects possible.”

Doran Regional Park also offers free non-motorized, all-terrain beach wheelchairs and walkers on a first-come, first-served basis. Beach wheelchairs have oversized balloon tires designed for sand and uneven surfaces and are available in standard, reclining and children’s models. All-terrain walkers have four wheels, hand brakes and built-in seats for resting.

For Freedom Trax reservations and more information about accessible equipment at Doran Regional Park, visit SoCoParks.org/FreedomTrax. For more information about Doran Regional Park, visit SoCoParks.org/Doran.

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Media Contact: 
Tina Luster, Marketing Specialist
Sonoma County Regional Parks
Tina.Luster@sonomacounty.gov
707-565-3803
SonomaCountyParks.org