Virginia is the first state to allow foliage viewing for guests of color in every park

Many Americans travel near and far to catch glimpses of fall foliage bursting with fall colors across the US.

Deep reds, bright yellows, cool browns, and other natural colors are usually the centerpiece of leaf peeping season.

But for those who are color blind, the excitement of the landscape can be significantly dampened.

For individuals who are blind, they are unable to see colors in a typical way and often cannot distinguish between certain colors.

This can occur between greens and reds, and occasionally blues, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

In the retina, there are two types of cells that detect light, and these are known as rods and cones, Natasha Herz, MD, spokeswoman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and an ophthalmologist at Family Eye Care & Surgery in Rockville, Maryland, previously said. Fox News Digital.

Cone cells detect color and are concentrated near the center of your vision. The brain uses input from these cone cells to determine color perception, she said.

There are three types of cones that see color: red, green, and blue.

“Color blindness can occur when one or more color cone cells are missing, malfunctioning, or detecting a different color than normal,” Herz said.

According to the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in New York, about 12 million Americans or 3.7% of the US population are color blind, with 7% being male and 0.4% being female.

Those with color blindness often miss out on the wonder of witnessing the amazing colors of nature’s beauty, but in Virginia, people who are color blind can use special sights to capture the beauty of fall.

Here’s what travelers need to know.

Virginia is for leaf lovers

Virginia State Parks is the first park system in the nation to install EnChroma-adaptive viewers for color-blind guests in every park, according to a news release issued by Virginia State Parks.

Installation of EnChroma-adapted viewers in Virginia State Parks began in 2023 with Commonwealth Natural Tunnel State Park.

The initiative was led by Chief Ranger Ethan Howes, who is color blind, the same source said.

The remaining 42 state parks received their views in 2024.

“This initiative underscores Virginia’s commitment to improving outdoor experiences for all visitors and sets a new standard for state parks nationwide,” Matt Wells, director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, said in a statement. manages Virginia State Parks.

“We are proud to play a role in opening up a world of vivid color for color-blind individuals to experience nature like never before.”

The binoculars were created by SeaCoast Manufacturing and boast special lenses to magnify what is being seen.

Individuals can use these specially equipped viewers to capture a clearer representation of the hues and colors of fall foliage scenes in Virginia State Parks.

To fund the viewer initiative, donations were collected through the Round-Up for Parks Program, allowing visitors to donate to Virginia State Parks when they make a purchase online or at a park, Virginia State Parks officials announced.

Since 2018, visitors have donated nearly $300,000, which has been invested in improving offerings and activities, the same statement revealed.

“EnChroma viewers help us create a unique experience for our red-green blind visitors and allow them to better enjoy the breathtaking beauty of our state parks,” Virginia State Parks Director Melissa Baker, Ph .D. the notice says.

“Seeing the world in vivid color is a gift many of us take for granted.”

Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.