Extreme Motus at the NRPA 2024 Conference (Atlanta)

Extreme Motus at NRPA 2024

The National Recreation and Park Association held its annual conference in Atlanta this fall, and Extreme Motus was there to show off the chair to the people who actually decide what equipment shows up in city parks across America.

What is the NRPA?

For more than 50 years, the NRPA Annual Conference has been the premier gathering of the parks and recreation community. City planners, landscape architects, engineers, parks & rec employees — they all come to share ideas, attend continuing-ed sessions, and check out the latest equipment.

The NRPA itself is a leading nonprofit dedicated to building strong, vibrant, resilient communities through parks and recreation. They focus on protecting open spaces, connecting children to nature, and engaging communities in conservation. They also advocate for equitable access — making sure everyone benefits from local parks regardless of ability or income.

Why Extreme Motus attended

Our reason for showing up: we want to see all-terrain wheelchairs available at every state park, national park, city park, even skate parks across the country. The right adaptive equipment on site benefits visitors, families, and the park’s reputation. When you exclude a person with a disability, you exclude their entire family.

The Extreme Motus rolls over grass, gravel, dirt, rocks, sand, and snow — and floats in shallow water. It’s lightweight, folds in half for storage or transport, has comfortable low-pressure balloon tires, and disc brakes for safe descents on steep trails.

Here’s the pitch we made over and over to park directors at the booth: the right piece of adaptive equipment can make a park accessible while saving hundreds of thousands of dollars. Rather than pour concrete, install boardwalks, or harden trail systems, parks can keep one Motus available at the visitor center and let it ride the existing trails everyone else uses. It’s a fraction of the cost and it makes a much wider variety of trails reachable.

We met an enormous number of people who came to the booth specifically to talk about accessibility solutions. We’re following up with many of them about getting Motus chairs into their parks.

Did we have any fun in Atlanta?

Yes! Part of the NRPA event was held at the Georgia Aquarium — the largest aquarium in the world, closed to the public for the night just for conference attendees. We had dinner among the whale sharks and sea life. Because we wore the loudest shirts on the planet, plenty of people recognized us afterward and came over to ask questions about Sam and the chair.

We also visited the Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark for a shred session — Sam ripped down a hill in the Motus and we made friends with a few skaters who wanted to try the chair. We always make time to goof around, even when we’re working.

My favorite video from the trip was filmed in a sloped hallway leaving the conference center. I asked Sam to say, “Hey Ryan, your shoe’s untied” while I let him roll away. Instead of saying his line he said, “Hey Ryan… you’re… stupid.”

I edited the video at the airport and we were both laughing so hard the people sitting behind us moved to a different section of the gate.

We look forward to attending more NRPA events and turning the relationships we built in Atlanta into actual chairs in actual parks.

Frequently asked questions

What is the NRPA?
The National Recreation and Park Association — the nonprofit that represents and educates city parks & recreation professionals across the US. Their annual conference is the largest gathering of the field.

Why is an all-terrain wheelchair manufacturer at a parks conference?
Because parks are where these chairs do their most important work. Every park director who adds a Motus to their visitor center makes the park accessible to many more visitors at a fraction of the cost of paving trails.

Is it really cheaper than building accessible trails?
Yes — by an order of magnitude. Hardening a trail system with concrete or boardwalks can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. A capable all-terrain wheelchair runs $4,500–$8,000 and lets visitors use the trails the park already has.

How can my park or rec department add an Extreme Motus?
Reach out through our website and we’ll walk you through the options — direct purchase, sponsored placement, or grant-funded acquisition. Many parks find a corporate sponsor for the first chair.

Where can I see the Motus in person?
At conferences like NRPA, at parks that already host one (Pembrokeshire Coast, Alaska Zoo, Bryce Canyon area), or by contacting us to schedule a demo.