In honor of Disability Pride Month and the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Montgomery Parks is throwing a special event. The program, called Disability Pride Outside, provides a morning full of accessible and modified outdoor activities for people with disabilities. The Discovery Center at Black Hill Regional Park, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Clarksburg, MD, will host this family-friendly event on Saturday, July 26, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Although registration is necessary in advance, all activities are free.
Montgomery Parks’ program access manager, Jennene Blakely, stressed the value of offering accessible programs and activities in parks all year long. According to her, Disability Pride Outside is a chance to celebrate the advancements made in the disability rights movement over the previous 35 years and draw attention to these inclusive activities for both new and returning tourists.
There are many different activities on the event calendar. The welcoming comments will begin at 9:30 a.m. Activities including a nature treasure hunt, mud kitchen, birdwatching, an adaptive mountain bike demonstration, self-guided hiking, picnicking, and Black Hill boat rentals are available to general admission guests from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Two kayaking sessions from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and noon to 1:00 p.m., two pontoon boat rides from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and five fishing sessions over the course of the event are among the ticketed events that necessitate selecting a specific time slot.
Everyone can purchase a general admission ticket, but they must be reserved in advance. Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and are exclusively available to people with disabilities.
A wheelchair-accessible shuttle cart, accessible parking and facilities, American Sign Language interpretation, sensory retreat tents, amplified sound, and support personnel and volunteers are just a few of the accommodations that have been set up to guarantee accessibility. You can phone 301-495-2581 or send an email to [email protected] to seek further accommodations.
The Department of General Services Office of Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Montgomery County Commission on People with Disabilities are collaborating to deliver the event. This program’s success is also attributed to the assistance of Catalyst Sports and the Black Hill Nature Center.
