From year to year, BC Parks showcases public access to some of this province鈥檚 most treasured parks and conservation areas. As it has in past years, Strathcona Wilderness Institute will be hosting BC Parks Accessibility Day on Aug. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Paradise Meadows.B.C.鈥檚 provincial parks have some remarkable conservation areas that have been set aside as public heritage for the enjoyment of all British Columbians. As noted last year by Green MLA, Andrew Weaver, there is a growing demand for access to B.C. Parks. It is therefore fitting that in the wake of the BC Day weekend, a special day be set aside for the public to discover and celebrate this special gift of which every British Columbian is an owner.The Paradise Meadows trailhead at Mt. Washington is special because it is one of the few areas in B.C. at which the public has access to higher elevation (1,100m) subalpine meadows.ALSO: Strathcona Park Wilderness Centre open for the summerThanks to the special gift of the 2km 鈥淐entennial Boardwalk鈥� the meadows are accessible to people with mobility challenges and special abilities on a level surface. The Strathcona Wilderness Institute provides three wheelchairs throughout the summer for visitors needing them, free of charge.Strathcona Wilderness Institute will be hosting a day of naturalist walks around the boardwalk and lectures for all participating visitors. Additionally, the institute is drawing together the three (or more) TrailRiders available on Vancouver Island, in order to organize a hike to Battleship Lake (3 km each way) where participants can enjoy views of the lake from the fishing dock. The day-use area also has picnic tables and a Trail Rider accessible toilet. While not planned as part of this event, if your TrailRider group would like to do a more challenging 11 km loop, the Battleship Lake/Helen Mackenzie Lake circuit could be done. There will be refreshments at the Wilderness Centre.Volunteers are needed to sherpa the TrailRider, and make this day a success for participating visitors with ability problems. Each TrailRider needs three able-bodied volunteers to wheel the participant. If you are interested in helping us celebrate Strathcona Park, please email strathconawilderness@gmail.com, or call Judy Norbury at 250-336-2460.Strathcona Wilderness Institute is an educational charitable society which provides visitor support for Strathcona Park , and supports citizen science and independent conservation research programs.