A vinyl mat, measuring six feet wide, that runs over the sand and down to the waterline has been put in place at the Greenwich Point Beach to help people with mobility difficulties.
The Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities of the First Selectman developed the idea so that those who had little to no mobility could easily roll over the sand and access the water. Alan Gunzburg, chairman of the committee, said that the mat is a great accessibility tool.
People who are not steady on their feet, who may have had knee or hip surgery, or use a device such as a wheelchair, cane, or walker can now go from the Susan Baker Pavilion down to the waterline, which was not previously made available to them. Now the community can be informed of such enhancements through the use of printing services.
The Lions Club of Greenwich, for which Gunzburg is the secretary, also provided funds for the installation of the mat. AccessRec created the mat.
First Selectman Peter Tesei expressed his appreciation of this donation from the Lions Club of Greenwich, which made the beach access mat possible. He noted that this demonstrates the commitment of the advisory committee to providing accessibility and including people of all abilities in the town.
The mat can also be used by parents with children in strollers, and people with carts or wagons.
