Join an NPS-RTCA landscape architect and the Ability360 Outdoor Recreation Programs Manager to learn what they experienced while exploring river access points along Arizona’s Salt River, as well as during an on‑river float with several recreationists with paraplegia. This webinar will share insights from an accessibility audit that examined barriers, opportunities, and user experiences at multiple access locations, paired with firsthand lessons from an adaptive river trip designed to better understand the needs of paddlers with mobility disabilities. Participants will come away with practical considerations, design takeaways, and management strategies that support more inclusive, equitable, and enjoyable river access for all.

Speakers

Laura Bolyard joined RTCA as a landscape architect in the Arizona office in 2015. She began her career working for the federal government in 2001 as a Forest Planner Trainee with the US Forest Service. Laura then worked seasonally and permanent for the National Park Service in Historic Preservation, Facility Management, Visitor and Resource Protection, Fire, Interpretation, and Resource Management. Laura has a B.S. in Forestry from Northern Arizona University with an emphasis in national park resource protection and holds a master’s degree from the University of Arizona’s Landscape Architecture and Planning program where she focused on designing healing gardens and educational landscapes for place-based learning within communities. Laura has become a specialist in designing landscapes for disability communities and managed a multi-year project designing a cultural history park for and with students and faculty who are deaf, blind and with multiple disabilities. Laura has worked to support the NPS Healthy Parks Healthy People initiative and has led the implementation of a pilot Park Prescriptions program in Arizona.

Kaitlyn Verfuerth is a renowned athlete and advocate for inclusion in outdoor spaces. As a four-time Paralympian in tennis and sprint canoe, she has demonstrated exceptional skill, resilience, and dedication in the world of adaptive sports. She currently serves as an Outdoor Coordinator at Ability360, leading paddle sports and adaptive mountain biking programs that create meaningful, inclusive outdoor experiences for individuals with disabilities. In addition, Kaitlyn works as a Recreational Therapist at Barrow Neurological Institute, supporting individuals in inpatient rehabilitation with spinal cord injuries (SCI), strokes, and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Her work focuses on helping patients rebuild strength, confidence, and independence while reconnecting to meaningful life activities and community participation. Kaitlyn’s passion for promoting inclusivity extends far beyond sport. She is a strong advocate for change and works to expand access to outdoor spaces so people of all abilities can participate fully. She has hosted a week-long women’s adaptive mountain biking retreat. Through her leadership, advocacy, and lived experience, Kaitlyn continues to break down barriers and create more accessible, inclusive opportunities in both healthcare and outdoor recreation.

Registration

On the second Tuesday of the month, the River Management Society hosts River Management Roundtables, facilitated virtual discussions with professional river and water trails managers. These peer-to-peer conversations provide an open forum to ask questions, share solutions, and build camaraderie. There is no fee or membership requirement to attend, though registration is required. Discussions are recorded and shared with registrants.

Register

About Our 2026 Water Trails Series

Our 2026 River Management Roundtable series includes a set of sessions designed specifically to support water trail managers. Topics were identified through a survey of water trail managers and are being developed in response to the priorities and challenges they shared. Together, these sessions form a connected series focused on practical, timely issues in river and water trail management, and will help inform ongoing collaboration through the RMS Water Trails Working Group. Anyone interested in these topics is encouraged to attend.

• Jan. 13: Easements and Public River Access
• March 10: Dam Removal and Mitigation—Trends and New Norms
• May 12: Recreational River Releases—How, Why
  
• Sep. 8: River and Water Trail Accessibility
• Nov. 10: Managing Complex Water Trail Networks
• Jan. 12: Dam Awareness, Law Enforcement, Rescue Operations