We all love visiting the beach on vacation, but travelling on sand can be problematic for people in wheelchairs or those pushing baby strollers. Mindful of this and wanting to ensure that visitors with limited mobility can enjoy them, a number of Florida beaches have installed non-slip matting called Mobi-Mats over the sand to provide grip and easy access for those who need it.
The Mobi-Mats will be located on five beaches in Pensacola Beach, which occupies nearly eight miles of the 40-mile-long barrier island, Santa Rosa Island, in Florida. Distinctly separate from Pensacola itself, Pensacola Beach is a pretty stretch of powdery white sand, gentle, warm waters and a string of mellow beachfront hotels. The mats can be found on Casino Beach, Park West, Boardwalk Beach, Baby Beach and Moms Beach aka Quietwater Beach, and are funded by the Santa Rosa Island Authority and deployed by Escambia County Public Work.
The mats will help people to access the beaches who might otherwise not be able the enjoy the area's beautiful beaches. Furthermore, beach wheelchairs, both electric and traditional, are available for rent from several vendors along Pensacola Beach. “This is an incredible addition to the Pensacola Bay Area,” says Steve Hayes, president of Visit Pensacola. “Thanks to the Santa Rosa Island Authority, residents and visitors of all abilities will be able to enjoy our destination's beautiful features.”
For more information on planning an accessible trip to Pensacola, please check out Visit Pensacola's website here.
