Florida residents and others with disabilities need to search no further. William Joseph “Billy Joe” Rish Recreational Park is a 98-acre beach paradise located at Cape San Blas in the Florida Panhandle. This park was built specifically for persons with disabilities and their families and shows how some vision and planning can magnify one of nature’s treasures by expanding access. The current vision of the park is to allow people with disabilities and their families to enjoy an affordable, barrier-free outdoor recreational experience.
Originally envisioned by State Representative Billy Joe Rish in the early 1970s, the park has maintained its natural qualities through a county ordinance that mandates environmental protection and limits development to ensure pristine views on Cape San Blas. The park is owned by the state of Florida and operated by the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) with two full-time staff.
Rish Park is open all year and encourages both overnight stays and day visits. Reservations can be made by calling (850) 482-9386 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday. An online application is available on the Rish Park website.
About the Property
One of the unique features that Rish Park offers is access to St. Joe Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The north side of the park permits access to the bay through a boardwalk, which is renowned for its scallops, wildlife, and estuaries. Visitors with the appropriate fishing permit will be welcome to capture their limit of scallops in St. Joe Bay. At the same time, the south side of the park drops visitors into miles of sugar-white beaches that are known for seasonal sea turtle nesting.
The miles of updated accessible boardwalk enable visitors to access the beach. Through the available beach wheelchairs and Mobi mats, wheelchair users can equally enjoy the beach with their family. For visitors that prefer to ride in luxury, there are two Beach Scoots (golf carts with hand controls) available for use. Groups and visitors are encouraged to bring personal equipment like kayaks, pontoon boats, snorkeling gear, and anything else that could be useful on your family or group vacation.
Staying Here
Rish Park can house 107 people in the six dormitory-style group cabins. Visiting groups can utilize the industrial kitchen located in the main lodge. If the weather is unfavorable, the main lodge contains a large projector screen that allows groups to watch movies and play video games. Next to the main lodge is an Olympic-size, accessible swimming pool. Visitors can use the grills located by the pool while listening to music of their choice over a speaker system. Previous groups that have utilized this barrier-free beach are the Annual Firefighters Burn Kids Camp, integrated Boy Scout troops, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
The park has two family cabins that can house up to seven people. They each contain a living room, kitchen, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms, complete with a roll-in shower. The cabins are maintained in a rustic fashion and users must bring personal items such as sheets, towels, and groceries.
Overnight guests pay per night per person. Groups of more than 60 people pay per person per night. The day visits are also paid per person. Groups can rent the entire park for the night.
Additional Note: The State’s Commitment
Following the 2004-05 hurricane season, the state of Florida invested $3.5 million to update Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and repair damage on the Gulf side of the park incurred during the storm season. Under Governor Rick Scott’s leadership, the state of Florida has been investing in economic development and tourism. According to APD Director Barbara Palmer, “Governor Scott is a strong advocate for people with disabilities and has demonstrated it many times in the support he has provided our agency and individuals we serve. He and state legislators approved funding enhancements to Rish Park which will allow more access to this beautiful gem on Florida’s Gulf Coast. I encourage anyone with a disability to spend a few days at Rish Park. I know it will then become an annual vacation spot for their family which is why it was built.”
In the future, visitors can expect Rish Park to be more dynamic and accessible due to a recent $1.4 million appropriation. This revenue is specifically designated to enhance the north side of the park which has access to St. Joe Bay. The accessible boardwalk from the beach to the bay will be modernized to allow both freshwater and saltwater fishing. A floating dock will be included in the bayside renovation of the boardwalk. The dock will have all of the appropriate accessible features for adaptive sports and recreation.
APD will work with Governor Scott and the Legislature to seek additional Rish Park funding in 2014. This funding could be used for enhancements such as accessible nature trails, tree forts, campground, RV parks, miniature golf courses, multipurpose sports areas for adaptive tennis and basketball, and additional family cabins.
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