A New Way Through the Woods
A trail marker can tell you more than where to turn. At Havenwoods State Forest in Milwaukee, it can now also share a piece of the forest’s story through raised textures, Braille, and audio.
The new Braille Trail is a loop just over a third of a mile long. Along the way, its tactile features invite visitors to explore Havenwoods’ history, habitats, plants and wildlife. The words are presented in Unified English Braille, and audio adds another way to take in what’s around you.
Havenwoods is a city forest of woods, wetlands and grasslands, with trails for people to walk, run and explore. The new loop creates more ways to experience that landscape. A person can pause at a marker, feel its shape beneath their fingertips and listen as the place comes into focus.
The project received consultation and support from organizations serving people who are blind or visually impaired, including Audio and Braille Literacy Enhancement, Milwaukee Public Schools Specialized Services, and Wisconsin’s Office for the Blind and Visually Impaired. A limited number of white canes are also available to borrow.
That simple idea carries a generous message: enjoying nature doesn’t have to depend on seeing it. A trail can offer more than one way to notice the land and learn its stories.
There’s something heartening about a path designed with care for the people who will use it. The forest has not changed its trees, wetlands or open spaces. But now, more visitors have ways to connect with them.
Sometimes, a better welcome begins with a trail marker that says, "Come closer."
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