Everyone loves to enjoy some fun in the sun. Many of us take for granted the day at the beach or an outing at one of our beautiful state parks. For individuals who use mobility devices such as wheelchairs, it hasn’t always been possible. Thanks to the efforts of the NH State Parks, and non-profit like SMILE MASS things are changing here in the Granite State.
In 2017, SMILE Mass donated five Mobi wheelchairs to NH. These wheelchairs not only make the beach accessible but can also float thanks to their special design. This is in addition to the traditional beach wheelchairs that are available to make accessing beaches easier.
Below is a list of locations that have beach and Mobi wheelchairs available:
- Hampton Beach
- Kingston State Park
- Mt. Sunapee State Park
- Pawtuckaway State Park
- Wellington State Park
- White Lake State Park
These specialized beach wheelchairs are available free of charge on a first come first serve basis; chairs are available to use daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Inquiries on availability and the process of borrowing them for the day can be made at the toll booth or park store upon arrival; also be aware that some parks require a life guard to be on duty.
Additionally, Hampton Beach has installed a 40 mile beach access mat allowing further accessibility for everyone to enjoy our Seacoast. Thanks to these efforts our beaches and lakes are becoming more inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.
Many thanks to our friends at New Hampshire Family Voices for granting us permission to repost this article. Visit their Pass It On Newsletter (Summer 2022) for the original article and other articles of interest.
