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Floating Beach Chairs Available at Massachusetts & New England Beaches

July 7, 2020 by Sharon Marie

Smile Mass leo-in-brewster_crop (2)SMILE Mass (Small Miracles in Life Exist) has donated over 100 floating beach wheelchairs to public beaches in Massachusetts.
* PLEASE CHECK WITH EACH LOCATION FOR COVID-19 UPDATES, RULES and REGULATIONS.

These wheelchairs can roll from the parking lot, across the sand, and right into the water — allowing anyone with special needs to access the beach.
Families can now take their disabled family member to ocean beaches on Cape Cod, the North Shore and the South Shore, as well as to town lakes in Harvard, Natick, New Bedford, Sharon and Wayland.
 * You can see all beaches with wheelchairs available on the SMILE Mass website.
*  You may need to contact each beach to see if reservations are needed for the equipment.

BEACH LOANER PROGRAM: SMILE Mass has 10 floating beach wheelchairs, 2 adaptable bikes, and 5 jogging strollers available to borrow, FREE of charge, to take on your vacation or outing. If you are planning a vacation and need a beach wheelchair or a bike for any special occasion, contact SMILE Mass at the link below to reservation dates and  equipment.
To find out more, make a reservation and see the most updated locations visit The SMILE Mass Beach Project or email info@smilemass.org 2020 Updated Locations in Massachusetts

  • Andover: Pomps Pond
  • Barnstable-Hyannis: Covell’s Beach, Craigville, Dowses Beach, Fortse Beach, Hamblin’s Pond, Hathaway’s Pond,Kalmus Park Beach, Keyes Beach, Loop BeachMillway Beach, Sandy Neck Beach, Wequaquet Lake, Veteran’s Park Beach
  • Boston: Carson Beach, Spectacle Island,
  • Bourne: Monument Beach, Scusset Beach State Park
  • Brewster: Long Pond Beach
  • Buzzards Bay: Sagamore Beach
  • Chatham: Harding’s Beach, Oyster Pond Beach
  • Dennis: Bayview, Chapin Beach, Cold Storage, Corporation Beach (2)
    Glendon, Howes Street, Mayflower (2), Princess, West Dennis Beach (2)
  • Edgartown: Bend in the Road Beach, South Beach (2)
  • Falmouth: Bristol, Chapoquoit, Falmouth Heights, Megansett, Menauhant, Old Silver Beach (2), Stoney, Surf Drive, Woodneck
  • Framingham: Learned’s Pond
  • Harwich: Bank Street Beach, Earle Road, Long Pond, Pleasant Road, Red River Beach, Sand Pond
  • Harvard: Bare Hill Pond
  • Hull: Nantasket Beach
  • Ipswich: Crane Beach
  • Kingston: Gray’s Beach Park
  • Mashpee: John’s Pond, South Cape Beach
  • Mass Audubon: Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary (Barnstable)
  • Nahant: Nahant Beach
  • Nantucket, Children’s Beach, Jetties Beach (2)
  • Natick: Memorial Beach
  • New Bedford: West Beach
  • Oak Bluffs: Pay Beach
  • Orleans: Skaket Beach
  • Plymouth: Plymouth Beach
  • Morton Park: Hedges Pond
  • Provincetown: Ryder Street Extension (2)
  • Revere: Revere Beach
  • Sandwich:  Peter Pond at Oakcrest, CoveSnake Pond, Wakeby, Mashpee Pond at Ryder Conservation
  • Scituate: Humarock
  • Sharon: Memorial Park Beach
  • Vineyard Haven: Owen Park Beach
  • Wayland: Wayland Town Beach
  • Wellfleet: Gull Pond
  • Yarmouth: Bass Hole (Gray’s Beach), Bass River Beach (2), Seagull Beach (2), South Middle Beach
  • Connecticut: FairField, Lake Mohegan, Norwalk, Calf Pasture Beach, Westport, Compo Beach
  • Maine: Ocean Park, Wells
  • New Hampshire: Mt. Sunapee State Park, Pawtuckaway State Park, Wellington State Park,White Lake State Park
  • Vermont: Fairlee Town Beach
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Filed Under: Park & Beach Accessibility, Swim Sail & Boating

Accessible Beaches/Beach Wheelchairs in Massachusetts

May 5, 2018 by Sharon Marie

DCR floating-beach-wheelchairs675x243Accessible Beaches/Beach Wheelchairs in Massachusetts. The DCR Universal Access Program for Massachusetts state parks are made accessible with boardwalks, beach mat, and ramps. Many beaches also offer beach wheelchairs for use on the sand or in the water – contact each to make a reservation before your visit.
*  The following beaches have boardwalks, ramps, and beach mat to get on to the beach. Beach mat is usually placed seasonally from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Please contact the beach if you have questions about beach mat availability.
Boston region    Carson Beach, South Boston: This 3 mile urban shoreline has a paved pedestrian walkway that runs from Castle Island to the Kennedy Library. The beach offers a bath house, an accessible fishing pier, beach mat, and beach wheelchairs.

Constitution Beach, East Boston: This beach has an accessible bath house, beach mat, and beach wheelchairs. You can enjoy views of Boston Harbor and Logan Airport. The beach is accessible by public transportation.
North region    Ashland State Park, Ashland: A concrete platform provides seating at the edge of the Ashland Reservoir. Steps and a ramp, both with handrails, lead into the water.
Nahant Beach Reservation, Nahant: Long Beach offers a boardwalk running parallel to the beach, along with beach mat at one access point. Beach wheelchairs and two accessible bath houses are also provided.Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Salisbury: This popular 3.8 mile ocean beach has boardwalks over the dunes and beach mat at several access points. All three bath houses are accessible. There are many beach wheelchairs available to use on the sand or in the water.
Revere Beach State Reservation, Revere: 2.5 miles of urban shoreline feature a promenade, bandstand, bath house, shade shelters, beach mat, and beach wheelchairs. This beach is easily accessible by public transportation.
South region    Houghton’s Pond, Blue Hills Reservation, Milton: An interpretive boardwalk provides an accessible route down to the beach and bath house. Beach mat and beach wheelchairs provide access to the pond.
Demarest Lloyd State Park, Dartmouth: Access to this rocky beach is provided with beach mat and beach wheelchairs.Fort Phoenix State Reservation, Fairhaven: A boardwalk transitions to beach mat for access to the beach. An accessible bath house and beach wheelchairs are also available.Horseneck Beach State Reservation, Westport: 2 miles of shoreline are accessible via a paved route between the dunes and beach mat. You can also use beach wheelchairs. The surf conditions at Horseneck Beach usually prevent you from using floating beach chairs in the water. Please check with the lifeguards on duty at the beach about using chairs in the water.Scusset Beach State Reservation, Sandwich: This beach has beach mat, beach wheelchairs, and an accessible bath house on the Cape Cod Bay.
Central region    Erving State Forest, Erving: A ramp with handrails and beach mat let you cross the beach and enter the lake.
West region Lake Wyola State Park, Shutesbury: A boardwalk runs to a bench at the water’s edge. Beach mat leads into the water, and a beach wheelchair is also provided.

For further information contact the DCR Massparks Accessible Beach Page or the  Universal Access Program office 413-545-5353 voice; 413-577-2200 TTY

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Filed Under: Park & Beach Accessibility, Swim Sail & Boating

Local Beaches with Wheelchair Access

April 17, 2018 by Sharon Marie

Free. Find beach wheelchairs in Massachusetts state parks. You MUST bring your own transfer help. Because these chairs have large balloon tires, you will also need to bring someone to push you.
* You might need to make a reservation to use a chair, especially at coastal beaches.
* Two types of beach wheelchairs at DCR beaches.
  Sand and sunbathing beach wheelchairs are made of PVC pipe. This style of chair can’t enter the water.
Floating beach wheelchairs
let you move across the beach and into the water, and feature a reclined position, a harness for travel across the beach, and floating armrests. Subject to weather and water conditions.
* Wearing a Coast Guard-certified personal flotation device (PFD) while you are floating is required. You will need to bring your own life jacket or PFD with you. Close assistance and supervision from an able bodied user while you are in the water is required.
More information can be found at the Massachusetts DCR Web Page
Boston Region

Park Town Sunbathing Chairs Floating Chairs Use Phone
Beaver Brook Spray Deck Belmont 1 0 Spray Pool (617) 727-1058
Houghton’s Pond Milton 1 1 Beach (617) 698-1802
Carson Beach South Boston 3 2 Beach (617) 727-5290
Connell Memorial Swimming Pool Weymouth 1 0 Indoor Pool (781) 335-2090
Connors Memorial Swimming Pool Waltham 0 1 Pool (781) 642-8594
Constitution Beach E. Boston 1 1 Beach (781) 485-2803
Malibu Beach Dorchester 1 0 Beach (617) 727-5290
Nahant Beach Reservation Lynn 1 1 Beach (781) 485-2803
Nantasket Beach Reservation Hull 4 4 Beach (617) 727-5290
Pleasure Bay South Boston 2 0 Beach (617) 727-5290
Revere Beach Reservation Revere 2 1 Beach (781) 485-2803
Shannon Beach Medford 1 0 Beach (617) 727-5380
Spectacle Island Boston Harbor 1 1 Beach (617) 223-8666
Olsen Spray Deck Hyde Park 1 0 Spray Pool (617) 333-7404
Winthrop Shore Reservation Winthrop 1 0 Beach (781) 485-2803
Wollaston Beach Quincy 1 1 Beach (617) 727-5290

North region

Park Town Sunbathing Chairs Floating Chairs Use Phone
Ashland State Park Ashland 1 0 Beach (508) 435-4303
Bradley Palmer State Park Topsfield 1 0 Wading Pool (978) 887-5931
Breakheart Reservation Saugus 1 0 Beach (781) 233-0834
Cochituate State Park Wayland 1 1 Beach (508) 653-9641
Halibut Point State Park Rockport 1 0 Trails (978) 546-2997
Harold Parker State Forest North Andover 2 0 Beach (978) 686-3391
Hopkinton State Park Hopkinton 2 1 Beach (508) 435-4303
Maudslay State Park Newburyport 2 0 Trails (978) 465-7223
Salisbury Beach State Reservation Salisbury 20 3 Beach (978) 462-4481
Sandy Point State Reservation Ipswich 1 0 Beach (978) 462-4481
Walden Pond State Reservation Concord 2 1 Beach (978) 369-3254
Willard Brook State Park and Pearl Hill State Park Ashby-Townsend 1 0 Trails 978-597-8802

South region

Park Town Sunbathing Chairs Floating Chairs Use Phone
Demarest Lloyd State Park S. Dartmouth 1 1 Beach (508) 636-8816
Fort Phoenix State Reservation Fairhaven 1 1 Beach (508) 992-4524
Horseneck Beach State Reservation Westport Point 7 5 Beach (508) 636-8816
Massasoit State Park E. Taunton 1 0 Beach (508) 828-4231
Myles Standish State Forest Carver 2 0 Beach (508) 866-2526
Nickerson State Park Brewster 1 0 Beach (508) 896-3491
Scusset Beach State Reservation Sandwich 4 2 Beach (508) 888-0859
South Cape Beach State Park Mashpee 2 0 Beach (508) 457-0495
Watson Pond State Park Taunton 1 0 Beach (508) 822-7405

Central region

Park Town Sunbathing Chairs Floating Chairs Use Phone
Douglas State Forest Douglas 1 0 Beach (508) 476-7872
Dunn State Park Gardner 1 1 Beach (978) 632-7897
Erving State Forest Erving 1 0 Beach (978) 544-3939
Lake Dennison Recreation Area Winchendon 1 0 Beach (978) 939-8962
Lake Wyola State Park Shutesbury 1 0 Beach (413) 367-0317
Quinsigamond State Park Worcester 1 1 Beach (508) 755-6880

West region

Park Town Beach-only Chairs Floating Chairs Use Phone
Beartown State Forest Monterey 1 0 Beach (413) 528-0904
Chicopee Memorial State Park Chicopee 1 0 Beach (413) 594-9416
DAR State Forest Goshen 1 1 Beach (413) 268-7098
Hampton Ponds State Park Westfield 1 1 Beach (413) 532-3985

Additional Resources

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Filed Under: Park & Beach Accessibility, Swim Sail & Boating

Massachusetts Accessible Pools & Spray Decks

May 15, 2017 by Sharon Marie

DCR accpoolPools. All DCR swimming pools have outdoor chair lifts to provide access to the water. Several pools also have ramps into the water or offer zero-depth entry. Select pools and spray decks also have beach wheelchairs for use.
* Contact the pool or spray deck to reserve a beach wheelchair or for information about other site factors affecting accessibility.
* Outdoor Swimming Pool Lifts are at all of the State Parks and Recreation’s pools. Accessibility and contact details are on the DCR Massparks Accessible Pools Page.
Pools with ramps or zero-depth entry, and a chair lift Agawam: Gerald J. Mason Memorial Swimming Pool,
Attleboro: George I. Spatcher Memorial Swimming Pool,
Brighton: Artesani Wading Pool,
Brockton: Manning Swimming Pool,
Chelsea: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Swimming Pool and Wading Pool,
Chicopee: Sara Jane Sherman Memorial Swimming Pool,
Clinton: Philip J. Weihn Memorial Swimming Pool,
Fall River: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Swimming Pool and Spray Deck,
Fitchburg: Gustave Johnson Memorial Swimming Pool and Spray Deck,
Freetown: Freetown State Forest Spray Deck and Wading Pool,
Lawrence: Lt. Colonel Edward J. Higgins Swimming Pool,
Leominster: Leominster State Swimming Pool,
Lowell: Raymond Lord Swimming Pool and Spray Deck,
Ludlow: John F. Thompson Memorial Swimming Pool,
Mattapan: Ryan Wading Pool,
Milford: Sen. P. Eugene Casey Memorial Swimming Pool,
Southbridge: Andrew J. Petro Swimming Pool,
Springfield: John H. Thomas Memorial Swimming Pool and Spray Deck,
Topsfield: Bradley-Palmer Wading Pool,
Waltham: Connors Swimming Pool,
Weymouth: Connell Memorial Swimming Pool,. Beach wheelchair available.
Worcester: Dennis F. Shine Memorial Swimming Pool,
Worcester: Veterans Memorial Bennett Field Swimming Pool

Pools with lifts and stairs only (No Ramps Into The Water) Brighton: Reilly Memorial Swimming Pool,
Cambridge: Francis J. McCrehan Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool,
Cambridge: Veterans Memorial Swimming Pool,
Everett: Allied Veterans Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool,
Hyde Park: Olsen Swimming Pool,
Lawrence: Geissler Memorial Swimming Pool,
Malden: Lt. Dennis C. Holland Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool,
Melrose: Lawrence W. Lloyd Memorial Swimming Pool,
Roxbury: Melnea A. Cass Memorial Swimming Pool,
Somerville: Dilboy Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool,
Somerville: Latta Brothers Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool,
Stoneham: Hall Memorial Pool,
Watertown: Clarence W. Dealtry Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool, Spray decks – Spray deck surfaces and water features are accessible. Parking and the approach to the deck varies by location. Contact the spray deck directly with any questions about site access.
Belmont: Beaver Brook Spray Deck,  (unguarded). Beach wheelchair available.
Boston: Neponset Landing II Spray Deck,  (unguarded)
Brighton: Artesani Playground Wading Pool and Spray Deck,
Hyde Park: John T. Moynihan Spray Deck,(unguarded). Beach wheelchair available.
Hyde Park: Olsen Spray Deck,  (unguarded)

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Filed Under: Park & Beach Accessibility, Swim Sail & Boating

Sea Legs Adaptive Sailing on Cape Cod’

April 1, 2017 by Sharon Marie

Sail Cape Cod accessibility_400pixels (2)Hyannis Harbor, Summer 2020 – please inquire about Covid-19 updates and cancellations. For Individuals with Physical, Developmental or Intellectual Challenges. ‘SeaLegs’ Adaptive Sailing Program is for all disabled youth, adults and veterans to help them overcome adversity through therapeutic sailing. Participants enjoy sailing while also experiencing increased self-confidence, the camaraderie of teamwork, and improved leadership skills. This program now has a retrofitted a specially-equipped adaptive sailboat dedicated to serving disabled sailors, both first-time and experienced.
The adaptive sailboat is custom designed so that even the more disabled sailor can skipper the boat. It is equipped with modular, supported seats, and custom-made sailplan and is specially designed to give disabled sailors ready access to steering and sail trimming. There is also a portable hoyer-style lift at the Gary Brown Ramp dock in Hyannis to accommodate any disabled sailor in need of assistance from wheelchair to sailboat.
Staff and volunteers are being specially trained to accommodate all disabilities, physical, developmental and cognitive, as well as those going through physical or emotional therapy.
Fees apply
Registration and more information: Contact  www.SailCapeCod.org or Info@sailcapecod.org or visit http://www.sailcapecod.org/page/programs/adaptive_sailing

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