Picnic tables are built for climbing over a bench and swinging your legs in. That works for most people, but if you use a wheelchair it usually means one of three things: sitting at the very end with nowhere to put your knees, eating with a plate on your lap, or parking a few feet away from everyone else.
That last one is the worst part. A cookout or campsite meal is supposed to be about sitting together. Here's what makes a table work for a wheelchair, and a few ways to make a regular picnic table work better.
Why standard picnic tables don't work
- The benches are attached. On most picnic tables the seats are bolted to the same frame as the top, so a wheelchair can't pull in along the sides.
- The ends barely overhang. The tabletop usually stops just past the frame, so the legs and cross-bracing block your knees and footrests.
- The ground is uneven. Grass, gravel and roots make it hard to roll up close and stay level.
What makes a table wheelchair-friendly
The U.S. Forest Service's outdoor accessibility guidelines for picnic tables give a good rule of thumb for what to look for:
- Table height: the top of the eating surface between 28 and 34 inches off the ground.
- Knee room: open space underneath at least 27 inches high, 30 inches wide and 19 inches deep.
- Room to park: a clear, level space about 30 by 48 inches where the wheelchair sits.
- Room to get there: a clear path around the usable side of the table.
If you manage a public park or campground, check the current federal and local accessibility standards for exact requirements. For a family cookout or a campsite, these numbers are a useful guide for setting things up so everyone fits.
Three ways to make room
1. Buy an accessible picnic table
Many parks now have picnic tables with an extended top or a missing bench section so a wheelchair can pull in. They're a great option for a permanent spot, but they're heavy and expensive, and you can't bring one to the campsite you're actually staying at.
2. Use the end of the table
Sitting at the end can work if the top overhangs enough and the frame doesn't get in the way. Check for knee room first, and be careful with tables that tip when weight is on the very end.
3. Add a clamp-on extension
This is why we built The Big John Table. It clamps onto the end of a picnic table and adds a stainless-steel tabletop, 29.5 inches wide and 27.5 inches deep, with open space underneath. The legs adjust from 23.5 to 39 inches, so you can set the top level with the picnic table and a wheelchair can roll right up to it.
It folds flat and weighs 16.5 pounds, so it goes wherever you're eating: the park, the campground, a tailgate or the backyard.
Tips for setting it up
- Pick the flattest end. Choose the end of the table with the most level, firm ground for the wheelchair to sit on.
- Clamp it tight. The clamps open up to 4 5/8 inches. Tighten both before you set anything on top.
- Match the height. Adjust the legs so the top is level with the picnic table, then check that there's enough knee room for the person using it, including armrests and footrests.
- Keep the load light. The Big John Table holds up to 35 pounds. That's plenty for plates, drinks and serving dishes, but it isn't meant to be leaned on or used as a support to transfer in or out of a chair.
- Leave a clear path. Move coolers, chairs and bags out of the way so getting to and from the table is easy.
Everyone gets a seat at the table
Accessibility doesn't have to mean a separate table or a plate balanced on a lap. With a little planning, and the right setup at the end of the table, everyone can sit together.
Note: The Big John Table is a portable table extension, not a certified ADA fixture. Always check the setup for the person who will be using it.
See The Big John Table and join the waitlist for our first run of 100 tables, launching this holiday season.