Texas’ First Multi-Sensory Trail June 15, 2011

As a class project, Leadership Houston Class XXIX are building a quarter-mile, multi-sensory nature trail specifically designed for the blind or visually impaired on the grounds of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. The trail will give the vision-impaired a rare opportunity to do what the sighted take for granted: experience and learn about nature in solitude. The trail will also be a great educational tool for fully-sighted participants to learn about our natural environment and how to better utilize senses other than sight. The Palmetto Multi-Sensory Trail will incorporate a guide rope to lead visitors to a series of learning stations where information will be displayed in both Braille and large print.

The Palmetto Multi-Sensory Trail will be the first of its kind in the southern United States, which has the largest visually impaired population at an estimated 10.2 million people. Located on the western edge of Memorial Park, the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center has nearly 200,000 visitors annually, offering an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and the opportunity to experience the natural world. This 155-acre non-profit urban nature sanctuary’s mission is to provide education about the natural environment to Houstonians of all ages. Free to the public, visitors can enjoy over 5 miles of nature trails, including forest, pond, wetland and meadow habitats. Image credit: www.PalmettoMultiSensoryTrail.org