RIDGELY – Adkins Arboretum recently received funding from the Rural Maryland Council to purchase an energy-efficient six-passenger golf cart and the equipment to secure and maintain it. The cart will provide all with experiences in nature and will increase mobility for all visitors.

Guests with mobility issues can travel with their companions instead of waiting and can reach areas beyond their ability. “Providing everyone with exceptional experiences is central to the Arboretum’s mission,” a statement from the organization said.

The arboretum’s previous three-passenger golf cart could carry only one or two passengers at a time. A friend of the arboretum donated to install seat belts on all six seats.

Founded in 1994, the Rural Maryland Council serves as the state's federally designated rural development council and functions as a voice for rural Maryland - advocating, educating and helping "A Collective Voice for Rural Maryland" rural communities and businesses across the state to flourish and to gain equity to its suburban and urban counterparts.

The council administers the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund and the Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund grant programs.

Additionally, the council conducts research activities to understand rural challenges and outreach to engage rural residents in developing solutions to these challenges and convenes groups to identify solutions through consensus and coalition building.