In an effort to improve access to water, the Manitoba (Canada) government is investing CA$87,000 this year to increase the number of mobility mats at several provincial park beaches.
“Our provincial parks are designed for all Manitobans, and we continue to make investments to improve accessibility,” said Environment, Climate and Parks Minister Jeff Wharton in making the announcement along with Families Minister Rochelle Squires, minister responsible for accessibility.
“We want all park visitors to be able to enjoy the great outdoors, and mobility mats make it easier for people in wheelchairs, those who are using mobility aids, and parents with strollers to access the beach.”
Often referred to as mobi-mats, the non-slip mats were first introduced in Manitoba at the Birds Hill and St. Malo provincial parks.
“Addressing accessibility barriers and letting more people visit our wonderful beaches through the expansion of mobility mats is keeping with our government’s commitment to having all Manitobans, regardless of their abilities, be able to fully participate in society and be treated with dignity and respect,” said Squires.
This year, two new Mobi-mats have been added at Birds Hill beach, and a variety of mobi-mats will be added to some beaches within Bakers Narrows Provincial Park, Big Whiteshell in Whiteshell Provincial Park, Hecla Provincial Park, and Wellman Lake in Duck Mountain Provincial Park.
A mobi-mat on Crescent Beach in Whiteshell Provincial Park is scheduled to be installed in the near future as part of repairs to the seawall, which was damaged by spring flooding, Wharton noted.
Last year, mobi-mats were added to various locations like Pioneer Bay Beach in Clearwater Lake Provincial Park, Falcon Lake Beach in Whiteshell Provincial Park, West Beach in Grand Beach Provincial Park, Kiche Manitou Beach in Spruce Woods Provincial Park, Lundar Beach Provincial Park, Winnipeg Beach Provincial Park, and Rainbow Beach Provincial Park.
This story originally appeared on Winnipeg Sun.