An outdoor experience is, for many people, something like a balm for the soul, but for every adventure lived, there are countless others left unrealized because of physical limitations of time, space and mobility. These are among the barriers that Caribbean Ability Park addresses today as the first inclusive park in the Caribbean.
Located in the Roosevelt Roads community in Ceiba, the 50-acre park offers recreational and therapeutic outdoor experiences for people with functional diversity in Puerto Rico.
According to Carlos Méndez, co-founder of Equinoterapia Puerto Rico, it all started when a family friend wanted to bring her son to see the horses at his farm. Even with extensive experience as a horseman, Méndez had doubts about the safest way for someone with autism to fully enjoy that moment.
That instinct led him to discover equine therapy, a therapy that uses a horse's movements to help a person coordinate and control their own movements. Although he did not work with his friend's son right away, he already knew the path ahead of him.
Three and a half years after earning certifications, identifying resources and preparing the space, Méndez and his wife, Tania Meisner, founded the organization Equinoterapia Puerto Rico (EPR).
Since then, EPR has worked with the functional diversity community for 15 years.
The creation of the park in Ceiba was a natural evolution toward the link that was still missing in Puerto Rico: a recreational, outdoor space fully accessible to all kinds of people.
"At that time, there were no spaces aimed at this population for this type of activity in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. In the United States, […] there were two parks dedicated to this: Colorado, and the other was Maine," Méndez said, noting that the wait for reservations, at that time, could require up to 5 years in advance.
"Parents and veterans with PTSD called me, asking when I was going to start the program […]. You have people with basic needs for light, water and food, and they are asking me to provide therapy for their children and veterans with PTSD want to come back. That means this works more than people think," he recalled in an interview.
According to a 2017 study, some of the benefits of outdoor activities for people with limited mobility include improved strength and endurance, relaxation, pain relief, improved cognition, empowerment, improved self-esteem and a sense of positive social integration.
Eventually, the wide diversity of populations they served pushed EPR to find a more suitable space. After a successful application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, they were able to establish the park in Ceiba.
Méndez then connected with tour guides interested in offering experiences for this population, such as Turismo Borincano and Madre Fajona, and together they designed the range of experiences that so many people can enjoy today.
Adapting fun for everyone
According to the most recent Census data, 22 percent of Puerto Ricans, nearly 700,000 people, have some type of disability; among them, the most common disability is limited mobility, at 12.6 percent.
While accessible places for people with functional diversity do exist in Puerto Rico, the park stands out for adapting each experience to each person's needs.
The founder sees the initiative as a necessary space for this population, and also as a potential player in the accessible tourism industry: a tourism industry capable of welcoming all kinds of people and accommodating their needs.
Currently, admission to the park is free; anyone who wishes can visit to enjoy nature, socialize or simply relax. At each edition, held on the last Sunday of every month, small businesses and food trucks will be on hand from early in the morning.
🌳 How to plan your day at Caribbean Ability Park
Although some activities are free, all have limited capacity. You can find out about them through the park's social media, and to reserve your spot or get details on each experience, go here.
Some of the activities offered previously include: interpretive hiking, adaptive cycling, intermediate cycling, archery, bird watching, and a recovery zone.
They have also offered yoga, kayaking and artisanal interpretation. Méndez recommends reserving the recovery zone to get a massage and unwind at the end of the activities.
For more information, contact the park at 939-403-7846.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
