Board of Directors
Ed Price, a geologist and professor, founded the Trail Access Project in 2015. Over the years he has led many friends and students to enjoy the outdoor adventure, grandeur, learning opportunities, and solitude while hiking in our national parks and other public lands. Now that he uses a manual wheelchair because of a progressive disability, he has quickly learned how much less meaningful a park experience is for a person with a physical disability.
Ed earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in geology from the University of Georgia and his Ph.D. in geology from Washington State University. Dr. Price recently retired after teaching at Nevada State College for eleven years. Through the Trail Access Project, he hopes to provide better access to nature for people with disabilities.
Ed earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in geology from the University of Georgia and his Ph.D. in geology from Washington State University. Dr. Price recently retired after teaching at Nevada State College for eleven years. Through the Trail Access Project, he hopes to provide better access to nature for people with disabilities.
Lori Navarrete, Associate Professor of Education, has worked in higher education for over 20 years, in faculty and administrative positions. Her primary area of expertise is preparing teachers to work effectively with students who have special needs and their families. Dr. Navarrete stresses the importance of designing lessons in a way that ALL students have access, consistent with the Universal Design for Learning principles. In her current position at Nevada State College (NSC). Dr. Navarrete’s students develop disability awareness and unified sports activities which are implemented in local schools, in partnership with Special Olympics Nevada. As a result of this partnership, NSC is a member of the SO College Program, a network that unites college students and people with intellectual abilities to enhance lives through sports, advocacy, and friendship. Dr. Navarrete envisions a unified hiking club in the near future where individuals of all ability levels can experience the beautiful desert trails here in NV. She grew up and lived in the high mountain desert of New Mexico for 30 years. After several years in the Midwest, Dr. Navarrete returned to the Mojave Desert where she said, the smell of desert rain, the red flowers of the ocotillos, the echoes in the canyons, the scent of the Texas sage, and the backdrop of desert willows brought her home. Accessible trails will make it possible for all families to enjoy the beauty of the Southwest.
Frank Lewis is a Senior Landscape Project Designer and Authorized Desert Tortoise Biologist with fifteen years' experience across multiple areas within the field. Frank’s educational background includes a Master of Landscape Architecture from Louisiana State University where he completed his thesis as a Study of Accessibility Issues at Louisiana State University. An abiding concern for environmental integrity, quality of life and equality in design contributes to each design that is undertaken by Frank.
Frank has contributed to numerous designs and studies of designs including single family residences, multi-use developments, municipal parks and regional parks, as well as studies of existing National Park Service properties. Of particular note is the design of Craig Ranch Regional Park, a 153 acre park in the City of North Las Vegas, NV and the Cultural Landscape Inventory of Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Gateway Arch) which was conducted as part of a National Park Service team.
Being part of a creative team allows Frank the opportunity to explore many ideas for the benefit of the client and the end-user of each designed space. Frank’s diverse experience, educational background, and camaraderie with project team mates contribute to unique and well thought out design solutions to fit each client's needs.
Frank has contributed to numerous designs and studies of designs including single family residences, multi-use developments, municipal parks and regional parks, as well as studies of existing National Park Service properties. Of particular note is the design of Craig Ranch Regional Park, a 153 acre park in the City of North Las Vegas, NV and the Cultural Landscape Inventory of Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Gateway Arch) which was conducted as part of a National Park Service team.
Being part of a creative team allows Frank the opportunity to explore many ideas for the benefit of the client and the end-user of each designed space. Frank’s diverse experience, educational background, and camaraderie with project team mates contribute to unique and well thought out design solutions to fit each client's needs.
Shelley Price is a city planner for the City of Henderson, Nevada, in the Las Vegas Valley. She previously worked with the Federal Reserve’s Community and Economic Development team and the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Mobility Division. She recently co-authored the 20-county Atlanta region’s Human Services Transportation (HST) Plan. This plan empowers local decision-makers to address transportation options available to, accessible to, and needed by frequently underserved populations, whose travel options are reduced due to low-income, low-English proficiency, and/or disability. She drew heavily from her prior professional experience on the Customer Experience team at the non-profit American Cancer Society to infuse this plan with a user experience-based approach to addressing the needs of underserved populations.
For her Masters in City & Regional Planning from Georgia Tech, she applied this user experience lens to open space and recreation planning. She investigated implementing a customer experience measurement program to identify opportunities for optimized mobility and more meaningful access to nature for national park visitors with disabilities. Her recommended program of visitor engagement and spatially-tied data collection would help park managers prioritize their limited budgets toward specific improvements that would have the greatest impact on park experiences for those with disabilities.
For her Masters in City & Regional Planning from Georgia Tech, she applied this user experience lens to open space and recreation planning. She investigated implementing a customer experience measurement program to identify opportunities for optimized mobility and more meaningful access to nature for national park visitors with disabilities. Her recommended program of visitor engagement and spatially-tied data collection would help park managers prioritize their limited budgets toward specific improvements that would have the greatest impact on park experiences for those with disabilities.
Noel Williams currently works as an architectural and interior designer and is a Nevada State Registered Interior Designer with more than twenty years of experience in design and decorative arts. In addition he is an adjunct instructor with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Architecture department of Interior Design. A Las Vegas resident since 2006, Noel has worked primarily in hospitality and commercial design providing full scope project management, specialized programming, space planning and construction administration. Noel’s association with UNLV has focused on sustainable design and environments for seniors. He was a key member of the UNLV Solar Decathlon team, creating a flexible sustainable age-in-place home, winning 2nd place in the international competition. Noel’s senior Interior Design studio has focused on creating unique living environments senior clients.
Since 2014 Noel has worked with Las Vegas Ronald McDonald House Charities to provide design services for the house remodel and Sunrise Children’s Hospital Family Room and was honored in 2016 as an RMHC House Hero.
Noel’s ongoing efforts and interest in sustainable and supportive design environments by extension has led to an extensive working knowledge of accessible design requirements and appropriate design approaches that integrate thoughtful planning and practical access. He continues to explore opportunities for integration of thoughtful design and convenient accessibility in living environments.
Since 2014 Noel has worked with Las Vegas Ronald McDonald House Charities to provide design services for the house remodel and Sunrise Children’s Hospital Family Room and was honored in 2016 as an RMHC House Hero.
Noel’s ongoing efforts and interest in sustainable and supportive design environments by extension has led to an extensive working knowledge of accessible design requirements and appropriate design approaches that integrate thoughtful planning and practical access. He continues to explore opportunities for integration of thoughtful design and convenient accessibility in living environments.