Vancouver Park Board
News Release
May 25, 2018
May 25, 2018
The
beach is calling …. and this year two of Vancouver’s most popular
beaches will be fully accessible to people with mobility challenges.
It’s the second phase of the Vancouver Park Board’s commitment to a better, more inclusive beach experience for all residents.
This
week, the Vancouver Park Board installed a Mobi-Mat, a non-slip beach
access pathway, at Kitsilano Beach. It’s the second beach mat in
Vancouver with the first installed at English Bay Beach last summer. In
addition, 10 new water wheelchairs will be available at beaches across
the city. The floating wheelchairs will provide persons with
disabilities safe access to the ocean, with the assistance
of an attendant.
“Inclusion
and access are core values of the Vancouver Park Board. In addition to
our commitment to accessible beaches, the Board has removed
barriers to recreation based on income, race, gender, and mobility and
has forged a new relationship with community centre association partners
through a shared commitment to equitable access to recreation for all
residents,” said Park Board Chair Stuart Mackinnon.
“Feedback
from the beach mat at English Bay Beach has been extremely positive. If
you’re in a wheelchair, going to the beach can be an ordeal
as you need the help of a strong friend or a lifeguard. Beach mats give
those with mobility challenges the freedom to visit the beach on their
own if they want,” said Mackinnon.
Jacques
Courteau, Co-Chair of City of Vancouver Persons with Disabilities
Advisory Committee, used the Mobi-Mat at English Bay last year and
again last week.
“I
got out of my chair and lowered myself onto the ground. It was awesome
to just stretch there on the warm sand. I stayed about one hour.
It was glorious! I will certainly do this more often this year,” he
said.
Water
wheelchairs will be available as of June 1 at Kits, Second Beach in
Stanley Park, and New Brighton pools and the
following beaches: English Bay, Kits, Jericho, Second Beach, Spanish
Banks East and West, and Trout Lake. The chairs require an attendant and
are available on a first come first served basis, at no charge, at each
location’s lifeguard station between Victoria
Day and Labour Day long weekends from 11:30 am – 8:00pm. More information at vancouver.ca.
The
Park Board offers many adapted and integrated recreational activities
for children, youth, adults, and seniors with mobility challenges.
These activities include aquatic lifts, wheelchairs and assisted entries
at pools and ice sleds at rinks. In addition, the Board provides free
access to facilities for attendants who support persons with
disabilities to swim, skate, exercise in fitness centres,
participate in recreation programs and visit parks. Support is defined
as assistance of a physical, psychological, emotional, intellectual or
sensory nature to ensure that the patron with the disability is able to
participate. Information on the full range
of adapted and integrated Park Board programs can be found at vancouver.ca.
Every
year the Board is doing more to make our facilities, parks and beaches
more accessible. Two years ago, the Board opened the Southeast
False Creek paddling centre. It provides Vancouver’s paddling community
with a permanent home and has ramps to allow paddlers with mobility
challenges easy access to their boats.
Current
estimates are that about 15 percent of Vancouver residents have some
form of physical disability or mobility restriction. This includes
people using wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and strollers. When you add
family and friends, approximately 50 percent of Vancouver residents are
affected by barriers to accessibility.
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Media contact:
Park Board Communications
604.257.8440
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