Handicap Parking
Due to limited spaces, there are a select few handicap parking locations close to Beal Botanical Garden. Please refer to our Parking information or MSU Parking Services Accessible Parking for further details.
Avoiding Stairs
Entry points for wheelchairs and mobility devices are limited. You can access the garden without stairs via the Red Cedar River Trail, west of the Hannah Administration Building or east of the Beal Street Bridge. Refer to our Accessibility Map below, or download here, for specific locations.
Terrain & Ground Conditions
Beal Botanical Garden spans over seven (7) acres, including Sleepy Hollow. While the perimeter is enclosed by a stable, paved sidewalk, the interior plant collections are primarily surrounded by turf grass and hillsides.
Optimal Visiting Time
For those using mobility aids or strollers, the garden is most accessible during dry seasons (March-October) when the ground is dried out and stable.
Surface Safety
Beal is susceptible to heavy rain and flooding, which makes turf grass areas soft or difficult to navigate. We recommend checking recent weather conditions before your visit to ensure the terrain meets your needs.
Assistive Resources
Explorations
As part of our educational material, Beal provides self-guided explorations for guests. A couple of our tours, "Canopy Conversations: The Vital Roles of the Trees" (#4) and "Spartan Tree Stories" (#6) are the most accommodating, as these specific tours utilize paved routes and indoor spaces. To view all options, see the Tours tab in our Exploration Map.
Tours
Most in-person tours involve walking on unpaved turf grass. Please let us know if there are any accessibility or mobility concerns and we will accommodate as best we can. Please see our Public Tours page for more information.
Campus Arboretum
In addition to the garden, the Beal Botanical Garden and Campus Arboretum team manages the diverse tree population across Michigan State University. With every campus tree databased and mapped, visitors can use our searchable interactive map to explore the arboretum. The extensive network of paved walkways and accessible campus routes offers an additional, barrier-free way to enjoy our vast plant collections.
Look for the light green "Level Turf" indicators on our Accessibility Map to find grassy areas with minimal incline.
The MSU Main Library provides assistive technology resources within their Assistive Technology Center. For more information, visit Accessible Library Services.
Apple VoiceOver
Platforms: Mac, iOS
VoiceOver comes built into Mac and iOS devices.
Android TalkBack
Platform: Android
TalkBack comes built into Android devices.
Read Aloud: A Text to Speech Voice Reader
Platform: Chrome
Add to Chrome