Recreation Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
Web Site for information on St. Cloud activities:
http://www.granitecountry.com
BEACHES
Benton Beach: Benton Beach is a fully accessible beach and picnic area. The
beach is also equipped with an accessible restroom. Located off Highway 10 on
County Road 2 (near Rice). For information contact: Kerry Trip at 320-968-5035.
BOWLING
The following St. Cloud area bowling alleys have accessible entrances and
restrooms. They include:
Granite Bowl:
Located at: 1740 St. Germain, St. Cloud
Phone: 320-251-2410
Granite Bowl South (former Southway Bowl)
Located at: 1222 S. 32nd St. St. Cloud
Phone: 320-253-7414
Great River Bowl:
Located at: 208 2nd St. S., Sartell
Phone: 320-253-2910
Vilo Lanes:
Located at: 310 Sundial Dr., Waite Park
Phone: 320-252-5644
FISHING
Accessible Fishing Piers:
Accessible fishing piers are located in Avon on Middle Spunk Lake, at Warner
Lake, and Beaver Island (south of the National Hockey Center at SCSU).
Angling Horizons of Minnesota:
Angling Horizons of Minnesota is a nonprofit corporation chartered in 1990 for
the purpose of providing increased access to outdoor recreation opportunities
for persons with disabilities. Using the medium of sport fishing, they bring
together persons with and without disabilities.
For more information call: 218-829-3998
Web site: www.anglinghorizons.org
Located at: Angling Horizons of MN
PO Box 904, Brainerd, MN 56401
Reel People Lured to Life
Pete Linsner provides a guide service and boat access to people with a range of
disabilities. He provides adaptive equipment for fishing and boating and has a
wheelchair accessible boat. This equipment offers an opportunity to be
independent in a safe, nonrestrictive boat that can be used on many area lakes
or at a place of their choosing.
For information contact Pete Linsner at: 320-256-5046
Located at: Rural Route 1, Box 143A Grey Eagle, MN 56336
HORSEBACK RIDING
Project Astride
Adapted and specialized training and recreation involving equestrians with
disabilities.
Contact: Clare Palmquist PO Box 873 St. Joseph, MN 56374
web site: www.astride.org
Phone: 320-468-2564
Reins of Freedom
This program, established in 1995, provides therapeutic riding experiences. The
gait of the horse is similar to the human gait and provides input that
stimulates improved balance. The motion of the horse proves relaxation and
stretching. This experience benefits the whole person.
For more information contact Lorna Stinar at: 320-746-8187
Rising Star:
Specially trained horses provide a chance for riders with mental illness to get
exercise and to experience the healing qualities of being in nature.
Participants benefit from increased self-confidence and self-esteem.
For more information contact: Brian Leet (M-TH) at 763-689-5291 or Robin School
(Wknds) at 320-632-6323
HUNTING
Disabled Veterans Deer Hunt
VA Medical Center St. Cloud
Contact: Dennis Erie or Ralph Kampa at 320-255-6323
The Minnesota Broken Wing Connection
This nonprofit organization allows individuals with disabilities to experience
the excitement of a hunt, by hosting the Pheasant Hunt Invitational. ATVs are
adjusted to allow wheelchair transportation around the 630-acre hunting
preserve. Selected individuals are invited each year and all costs are covered
by the organization.
To apply or for more information contact: Minnesota Broken Wing Connection
888-752-9373
PARKS
City of St. Cloud Parks
Many parks in the St. Cloud park systems have accessible facilities and trails.
A partial listing follows. For complete listing or further information contact:
Park and Recreation Department at St. Cloud City Hall located at 400 2nd St.,
St. Cloud, MN
Phone: 320-255-7216
Beaver Island Trail:
A paved trail that follows the Mississippi River south of St. Cloud State
University. Accessible restroom facilities are at the head of the trail.
Located at: 1503 3rd Ave. S.
Eastman Park:
The area surrounding Lake George in St. Cloud has accessible, paved trails,
restroom facilities, and picnic tables.
Located at: 425 East Lake Blvd
Phone: 320-529-6578
Pantown Park:
This park has an adapted playground.
Located at: 2915 9th St. N. St. Cloud
Seaberger Park:
This park has an accessible wading pool.
Located at: 2001 2nd St. N. St. Cloud
Stearns County Parks:
Stearns County has a number of parks and many of them are at least partly
accessible. At the time this brochure is being printed they are in the midst of
working with Wilderness Inquiry who is helping with a survey of the parks for
accessibility.
Contact Stearns County Parks at: 320-255-6172
Lions Park:
The Lions Park in Sartell has been designed to provide a complete and fully
accessible nature experience for ALL regional visitors, but especially for
people with visual and physical disabilities. This $300,000 Lions project was
developed by the Sartell Lions Club and is being completed with the help of many
other Lions Clubs in the area, a grant from the Lions Club International and
donations from local and regional individuals, businesses and organizations.
Located at: 1st St. N. and Pinecone Rd, Sartell, MN
Contact: Mike DeLuca, President, Sartell Lions Club
Phone: (W) 320-293-1560 (H) 320-202-0747
SNOW SKIING 
Powder Ridge:
Powder Ridge provides a ski school with adaptations for skiers with
disabilities.
Contact: Jerry Wahlin, Mgr. 320-398-5295 ext. 11
Web Site: http://www.powderridge.com
WALKING
District 742 Walking Program
This is a program that opens local schools to allow people of all abilities to
walk indoors throughout the winter months. Register in person at the Community
Education Center. The cost is $2 and you will receive a badge and an information
packet.
For more information call: 320-529-6500
Located at: 245 37th Ave. N., St. Cloud, MN
Whitney Recreation Center:
Whitney Recreation Center provides an indoor walking track for all season
walking availability. The track is fully accessible.
For more information call: 320-255-7277
Located at: 1529 Northway Drive, St. Cloud, MN
GENERAL
ARISE:
One on one assistance in recreational activities throughout the community.
Available for children with disabilities of any kind living in Central
Minnesota.
Contact: Westwood Elementary School: 320-253-5857
St. Cloud Area School District 742 Community Education; Adults with
Disabilities Program:
This program supports people with disabilities and encourages community
participation through recreational activities including sporting events,
theater, cooking classes, dances, etc.
Contact: Gale Erdmann at: 320-529-6500 ext. 6271 TYY: 320-529-4311
Email: gale.erdmann@isd742.org
Special Olympics:
Provides a year round program of sports training and competition for people with
mental disabilities that contributes to life long fitness, growth, and
achievement.
Contact: Issy Lieser at 320-253-7454
STATE ORGANIZATIONS
Camp Buckskin:
Kids age 6-18 with ADD/ADHD, learning differences or similar needs gain
knowledge and improve skills, through academic activities, in a traditional camp
setting. Program develops peer relations, interpersonal communication and
problem solving.
For information call: 320-930-3544
Email: buckskin@spacestar.net
Camp Oz:
Camp Ozawizeniba gives kids ages 8-17 with epilepsy the chance to participate in
traditional camp activities and epilepsy education sessions.
To contact call: 1-800-779-0777
Web Site:
http://www.hopkins.k12.mn.us/pages/north/hopkins_ss/links.htm#camps
Courage Center Sports and Recreation Programs:
Provides opportunities for skiing, hand cycling, archery, tennis, swimming,
yoga, water skiing, hockey, and martial arts. Camp Courage is another outreach.
Contact Courage Center at: 763-520-0569
Located at: 3915 Golden Valley Road, Minneapolis, MN 55442
Web Site:
http://www.courage.org/default.asp
Friendship Ventures:
Camp Friendship summer and winter camps provide inclusive settings for kids and
adults with disabilities, helping unite siblings and friends with and without
disabilities.
Located at: 10509 108th St. NW, Annandale, MN 55302
Contact at: 1-800-450-8376
Web Site:
http://www.friendshipventures.org
Minnesota State Parks:
Many of the Minnesota state parks have accessible facilities and trails.
For park information call the DNR Information Center at: 651-296-6154 or
888-MINNDNR
TDD#: 651-296-5484 or 800-657-3929
Web Site: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us
Wilderness Inquiry Outdoor Adventures:
Wilderness Inquiry (WI) provides outdoor adventure for people of all ages,
abilities and backgrounds. WI travels to over 35 destinations by canoe, sea
kayak, dog sled, horseback, and backpack.
Located at: 808 14th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Phone: 612-676-9400
Web Site:
http://www.wildernessinquiry.org
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
The Association of Disabled American Golfers:
This association works to promote the inclusion of golfers with all types of
disabilities. They advise other associations as well as individuals of the golf
community about important issues.
To contact the ADAG: Phone 303-922-5228
Email: adag@usga.org
U.S. Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association National Center:
The United States Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association is the National Governing
Body for competitive sports for individuals with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain
injuries and survivors of strokes. Sports in their programs include: bocce ball,
bowling, cycling, equestrian, power lifting, soccer, swimming, track and field,
and wheelchair soccer.
To contact: USCPAA National Center, 25 W. Independence Way, Kingston, RI 02881
Phone: 401-792-7130 Fax: 401-732-7132
Email: uscpaa@mail.bbsnet.com
Web Site :http://www.uscpaa.org