Boardwalk of the Handicapped Chattanooga Nature Center

Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee features 317 acres of forest, field and stream with a magnificent variety of trees, shrubs and wildflowers maintained in the style of an English landscape. The property features a nature center building which serves as an environmental education facility to connect people of all ages to learning opportunities.

In 1982, Garden Club of Lookout Mountain won the Founders Fund Award to build a ¼ mile long boardwalk traversing the wetlands leading to Lookout Creek. The boardwalk is an American Disability Act (ADA) approved wheel-chair accessible experience. Since the installation of this boardwalk, Reflection Riding has installed two buildings along the boardwalk: Paddler’s Perch, an elevated cabin alongside Lookout Creek which is available for overnight rentals and the Discovery Forest Treehouse, a 750 sq. foot building cradled in the arms of a 100-year old Overcup Oak Tree and constructed from recycled architectural pieces.

Now called the Blue Heron Boardwalk, the recipient of the 1982 GCA Founders Fund Award offers all visitors and especially those needing wheelchairs a unique opportunity to observe wildlife and plant life in a delicately balanced ecosystem.