Clifty Falls State Park brings Fall colors to life for colorblind visitors with new viewing tools

For Hoosiers, Autumn is a magical time marked by vibrant leaves of yellow, orange, and red transforming Indiana's landscape into a breathtaking tapestry. The season brings more than just cool weather, festive gatherings, and cozy clothing; it's a time to revel in nature's beauty. Yet, for those with red-green colorblindness, this stunning display can be more muted.

However, thanks to the support from the Emma L. Snyder Charitable Foundation and Friends of Clifty Falls, the park now offers these visitors a vivid glimpse of Fall's brilliance.

This year, the park installed two colorblind viewers at its scenic lookout point, including an ADA-accessible option. These viewers allow individuals with red-green colorblindness to experience the colorful landscape in a new, powerful way. Director of Indiana State Parks, Terry Coleman, expressed his excitement, saying, “We look forward to the enhanced view of Clifty Canyon that this will provide for those who experience colorblindness. The installation of these viewers continues our commitment to accessible features across our properties.”

The viewers at Clifty Falls join a history of inclusive projects supported by the Emma L. Snyder Charitable Foundation, based in Louisville, Kentucky.

With around 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women experiencing some form of colorblindness, these viewers are expected to enhance the park's appeal, offering a one-of-a-kind Fall experience for years to come. Visitors to Clifty Falls can locate the colorblind viewers at the lookout point, a testament to the park's mission of inclusivity and the Foundation's commitment to enhancing recreational space.