Belle River beach adds accessibility mats
People in scooters and wheelchairs can now join their families on the beach in Belle River.
Belle River beach has become the first in Windsor and Essex County to become fully accessible thanks to the installation of bright blue beach mats.
The accessibility mat — made of corrugated plastic — allows wheelchairs, scooters and even moms with strollers easy access to the water. The mats will create a non-slip surface leading from the paved walkway at the pavilion to the water’s edge.
“We are really promoting inclusion throughout our community,” said Lakeshore Coun. Tracey Bailey. “We’ve been working for five years to get this. We wanted to be a leader in this and hope others follow our lead.”
The $38,000 mat is a tightly woven polyester material that allows the sand to pass through, but is still durable enough for scooters and wheelchairs.
The 61-metre long mats are installed in double-widths giving ample space for traffic, and form a T at the water’s edge to provide parking for the wheelchairs or scooters.
“We wanted to send the message, whether you have a disability or not, everyone should have equal access,” Bailey said. “This has always been near and dear to my heart.”
The mat is portable and rolls up for easy storage. It is secured into the ground but can be easily moved to different parts of the beach if needed. The mats will be stored during winter months and installed in the spring.
“A lady in a wheelchair told me how happy she was about the mat,” Bailey said. “She said to me, ‘I’ve never been this close to the water before. I’m usually sitting at the pavilion watching everyone else. Now I can be with everyone else.’”
In March, city council also approved $37,500 to purchase accessibility beach mats for Sand Point Beach in Windsor.