In the year since outside consultants prepared an accessibility study of town facilities in May 2023, Harvard has updated the town beach to be more accessible. The beach had several violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including lack of accessible routes to public areas and an ADA-compliant bathroom. However, by the first week of July the beach will have two new accessible parking spots, an accessible bathroom, ADA-compliant mats going down to the beach, and an ADA-compliant swing.
Lifeguard Alex Myles demonstrates the mobi-cart, a chair that can move easily through the sand and into the water, where it floats. The chair makes the beach accessible to those who can’t walk and allows them to enjoy the water. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Construction on some of these updates began last summer. Pulling into the parking lot from Pond Road, one notices orange cones lining the darker pavement where a new accessible parking spot has been created. There is another new accessible parking spot on the right side of the beach, near the docks. According to Recreation Director Anne McWaters, these parking spots will be usable by the first week of July.
As one navigates the drop curb toward the beach house, there is a ramp leading up to a public bathroom, which was renovated to be accessible last June. One of the biggest ADA violations detailed in last year’s report was the lack of accessible routes for travel to the public areas, such as the picnic tables and playground. On the beach itself, a blue beach mat walkway will likely be installed this week, creating traction for disabled beachgoers to access public areas. This path will provide access to an ADA-compliant picnic table that is expeccted to be set up this week. It will also lead to the playground, where an accessible swing can be set up upon request. The kayak launch, which the town installed last summer, is also available to make entering and getting out of canoes and kayaks easier for older and disabled people.
For greater access to the beach and water, signs on the beach house say that a mobility chair can be brought out upon request. Currently the town owns one of these chairs. According to McWaters, there is no plan to purchase another mobility chair at this time because there has not been demand for two, but if there is a need, she said they will make a plan to do so.
“I’m hopeful that [the beach improvements] will allow more access to everybody, all of our community members, whether they’re able bodied or need assistance,” McWaters said.