Clearwater Beach is hoping to get more people to the beach this season, with the addition of all-terrain motorized scooters and mobility mats for beachgoers in need of accommodations.
The public beach now provides two motorized and two manual beach wheelchairs free of charge to visitors. They can be found at the Clearwater Beach Lifeguard Tower at 180 S Gulfview Blvd.
According to WUSF, three mats ranging from 50 to 125 feet hope to be approved in the coming months with a price tag of $18,000. Disability Achievement Center and the Forward Foundation supply the funds for the proposal, clearing the first hurdle of many for the city.
The extensive permit process delays the proposed project, expected to be unveiled by fall of 2022, reports the station.
Up to 30 parks and beaches—including Treasure Island, Gulfport, and Indian Rocks, to name a few—already have the mats installed. A downside to this inclusive tool is the number of hurdles that must be jumped over to carry the plan through.
Currently, mats must stop before hitting wet sand, meaning those without sand-proof wheelchairs are limited to how much they can immerse themselves in the beachside scenery. High tide and lack of wide beach space may keep officials from considering the accessible option altogether.
Environmental protection is one of the bigger obstacles in clearing the pathway. Construction can commence outside of sea turtle nesting season (May 1 - Oct 31); the time restrictions adds another step to the uphill battle of permit approval, reports the station.
Despite the consistent barriers, the pros of this project outweigh the headaches if it means those affected can experience a trademark of Florida's landscape.
The public beach now provides two motorized and two manual beach wheelchairs free of charge to visitors. They can be found at the Clearwater Beach Lifeguard Tower at 180 S Gulfview Blvd.
According to WUSF, three mats ranging from 50 to 125 feet hope to be approved in the coming months with a price tag of $18,000. Disability Achievement Center and the Forward Foundation supply the funds for the proposal, clearing the first hurdle of many for the city.
The extensive permit process delays the proposed project, expected to be unveiled by fall of 2022, reports the station.
Up to 30 parks and beaches—including Treasure Island, Gulfport, and Indian Rocks, to name a few—already have the mats installed. A downside to this inclusive tool is the number of hurdles that must be jumped over to carry the plan through.
Currently, mats must stop before hitting wet sand, meaning those without sand-proof wheelchairs are limited to how much they can immerse themselves in the beachside scenery. High tide and lack of wide beach space may keep officials from considering the accessible option altogether.
Environmental protection is one of the bigger obstacles in clearing the pathway. Construction can commence outside of sea turtle nesting season (May 1 - Oct 31); the time restrictions adds another step to the uphill battle of permit approval, reports the station.
Despite the consistent barriers, the pros of this project outweigh the headaches if it means those affected can experience a trademark of Florida's landscape.
