Discover an Accessible Flint and Genesee
By Chris Ringler on May. 21, 2025
Exploring Flint & Genesee and its parks and other amenities has become easier for people of every ability due to investments and changes seen across the county. Between the intentional development of and design in the parks systems, updated features at attractions, and the AbleEyes tool on the Explore Flint & Genesee website, it has gotten more effortless for everyone to enjoy the region.
With the help of a grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund, which matched funds provided by the Genesee County Board of Commissioners, Explore Flint & Genesee has updated its website with accessibility features, including AudioEye virtual tours of accessible sites in the region. This tool takes visitors through 20 local locations and allows them to virtually travel through them to see the accessibility options at each of the sites. Locations include hotels, restaurants, and attractions, giving visitors the opportunity to come to Flint & Genesee with a better understanding of what to expect on their visit. To virtually visit any of the 20 locations, head to the Explore Flint & Genesee website to take your virtual tour.
After years of planning, the Mundy Miracle Commons has celebrated a full season of a barrier-free baseball field (Miracle League Ball Field) designed for children with physical or cognitive disability. The ball field is made of a custom, rubberized surface accommodating wheelchairs and other adaptive equipment, as well as closer bases, and assistive devices for batting. Mundy Miracle Commons itself is actually the largest ADA (Americans with Disability Act)/universal design park in Michigan that is owned and operated by a municipality. Along with the ball field, there are barrier-free pickleball courts, barrier-free restrooms, plans for an accessible playscape, and more.
features several areas that are easily accessible. From the parking lot to the barrier-free Pickle Ball courts, Miracle League Ball Field, to the barrier-free trails that make their way through the area.
The Genesee County Parks offer many accessibility features, such as a barrier-free treehouse at For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum, an accessible playground at Bluebell Beach, and workshops for inclusive kayaking. Other Genesee County Parks with accessible features include Walleye Pike Boat Launch, Max Brandon Park, Davison Roadside County Park, Flushing County Park, Richfield County Park, Stepping Stone Falls, Linden County Park, Bluegill Boat Launch, and Buell Lake County Park.
The Flint Children’s Museum made several enhancements to make the space more welcoming and accommodating to visitors. These included a lower table in the Best Friends Animal Hospital to allow access to children who use wheelchairs. The museum also features a monthly Sensory Sunday, offering children the opportunity to enjoy the museum in a quieter setting.
Longway Planetarium features monthly sensory-friendly shows where the lights are on, the sound is turned down, and there are open captions for the hearing-impaired.
The Flint Institute of Arts Museum + Art School has made a commitment to being an accessible museum and even offers an accessibility specialist who is available to make sure every visitor has the same opportunities. Among the accessibility features of the museum are wheelchair-accessible entrances, elevators to aid visitors in reaching the second-floor administration offices and studios, Enchroma colorblind vision correcting glasses, wheelchairs, sensory spaces, sensory bags (with fidgets, noise-canceling headphones, and more), sign language interpreters, and a quiet room, and service animals are permitted throughout the museum.
Sloan Museum of Discovery offers ramp access into their space, smooth, wide paths through the museum, and galleries which allow guests of all abilities to view them and experience them.
The wonders of Flint & Genesee have never been more accessible than they are now. Head to the Explore Flint & Genesee website to plan your trip today.
