Alvin H. Butz, Inc., part of The Butz Family of Companies, recently completed the first phase of a new accessible trail for Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton. The budget on the project was $540,000. It is the first accessible trail in 81 years at Hawk Mountain.

The project is intended to boost visits by making it fully accessible for all people and much more enjoyable for families with children.

Hawk Mountain expects to enter a new age of outdoor accessibility with the opening of its first Accessible Trail to the nearby South Lookout. This trail features a slope of less than 8.3 percent, which falls below the federal guidelines for national parks. As no guidelines yet exist for state or local parks, Hawk Mountain is setting a new model for accessibility in outdoor areas.

Hawk Mountain has consistently received feedback from individuals with fond memories made over a lifetime at the Sanctuary, but could only walk inside the Visitor Center. They have shared with staff that although the South Lookout is less than a city block away, they could not navigate their canes or walkers or wheelchairs there. This scenic overlook is a major attraction in and of itself, and people don't come to Hawk Mountain to stay indoors, but to witness the big views of the mountain and the migration.

Since its founding in 1934, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary has carefully maintained a natural Appalachian forest experience. However, the rugged terrain limits access to its closest overlook just 100 yards from the parking area. With a grade that far exceeds Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, even the wide and groomed trail to this area was a challenge to visitors with children, and to a greater extent, those with limited mobility. For individuals who use a wheelchair, the South Lookout has been inaccessible except by a motorized chair.

Features of the trail include:

A full accessible route from the parking lot to the full height of the South Lookout, with a slope of less than 8.3 percent grade (most areas are far below that);

Trail beautification with more than 200 native plantings;

Restoration and expansion of a secluded outdoor education area known as the "Laurelwood Niche";

Bench seating, with rest benches that are wheelchair-accessible, installed after every rise to provide areas for rest along the way;

Accessible walkway extends to trailside restrooms;

Retaining walls built using local, native stone unearthed during trail construction;

Natural stone finish and work to address storm water runoff;

New trail entrance, dressed with native plantings, to create a sense of arrival, and

New timber frame trail entrance structure where volunteers greet visitors.

A dedication ceremony for the new trail was held July 26 at Hawk Mountain.

"Butz is proud to have worked on a project with such a significant, positive impact on Hawk Mountain," said Greg Butz, President and CEO of Alvin H. Butz, Inc. "We look forward to our continued working relationship with Hawk Mountain on the amphitheater project and all future projects."

"We couldn't be more pleased with Butz' professionalism, thoroughness, flexibility, and ability to grasp hold of our vision and truly become our partner in the success of this project," said Craig George, Director of Advancement at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary.

"We had very strict guidelines regarding protection of the environment, and they took our mandates throughout the whole process chain to include each and every contractor and subcontractor. They held our interests in very high regard, and treated our organization and our project with the utmost respect. Butz also was the epitome of construction management, costing out and budgeting for us with precision, and in fact, we are going to come in under budget thanks to their vision and oversight."

Butz is working on the design and construction of a new amphitheater for Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, slated to become the sanctuary's largest classroom.