Lisa Walters is a disability advocate living in St. John’s. Lisa is the founder of Access YYT, a volunteer initiative that highlights accessible businesses, events, accommodations and attractions in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Bowring Park is a large green space located in the West End of St. John’s. It has a number of walking trails, and the main one that runs throughout the entire park is paved. There are lots of amenities to enjoy, including two duck ponds, an outdoor pool, an accessible playground and splash pad, a skate park, an amphitheatre, and a labyrinth.
Wheelchair accessibility features include an accessible parking area near the gates on Squires Avenue, an accessible parking lot off McNab’s Lane, and wheelchair-accessible public washrooms.
Source: Rheya White Photography
The Rooms is a provincial museum and art gallery that holds the most extensive collection of artifacts, art and historical records within Newfoundland and Labrador. It is also a beautiful, modern building with floor-to-ceiling windows that provide sweeping views of downtown St. John’s. You can explore new or ongoing exhibits, attend events, visit the gift shop full of local art and souvenirs, or relax and have a bite to eat at the top-floor cafe.
Wheelchair accessibility features include accessible parking, ramps, automatic doors, elevator access, and accessible washrooms, with an all-gender inclusive accessible washroom located on the main level adjacent to the Visitor Services Desk.
Cape Spear is the most easterly point of North America, and home to the oldest lighthouse in Newfoundland and Labrador. A must-see for visitors, Cape Spear is located a short drive away from downtown St. John’s. There is currently no wheelchair access to the trail that leads to the lighthouse, but there is a newly paved trail leading down to an observation deck overlooking the ocean, as well as the remaining WWII bunkers from Fort Cape Spear. From the observation deck, you might be able to spot a whale or two.
Wheelchair accessibility features include accessible parking, an accessible visitor’s centre and wheelchair-accessible bathrooms located near the parking lot.
Located in the East End of St. John’s, the Paul Reynold’s Community Centre is a newly constructed building with a wheelchair-accessible swimming pool, as well as other fitness and recreation services. The pool is divided into four parts: a children’s splash area, a lazy river, a shallow pool, and the larger pool where you can do lane swimming.
Accessibility features include accessible parking, automatic doors, large gender-inclusive, wheelchair-accessible change rooms with showers, as well as pool wheelchairs and pool lifts available for use.
The Johnson Geo Centre is a geological interpretation centre, built into a natural rock basin on Signal Hill. With its combination of glass walls upstairs and exposed rock walls (from rocks that are 550 million years old) downstairs, it’s the perfect place to learn about the geological history of our province. At the Geo Centre, you can check out natural science exhibits, learn about our province and people, watch educational videos in their theatre, have fun in the KidsPlay area, or visit the gift shop.
Wheelchair accessibility features include accessible parking, automatic doors, elevator access, and wheelchair-accessible public washrooms. Please note that the lighting in the Johnson Geo Centre is low.
Lisa Walters is a disability advocate living in St. John’s. Lisa is the founder of Access YYT, a volunteer initiative that highlights accessible businesses, events, accommodations and attractions in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Published: May 27, 2022