Latest news with #Mobi-Mats
Hamilton Spectator
04-07-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Easier access to water at Chippawa Creek Conservation Area
Kimberly Clark is grateful she no longer has to push a stroller through beach sand to get her granddaughters into Dils Lake at Chippawa Creek Conservation Area in Wellandport. 'Trying to pull a wagon or a stroller through sand is a nightmare,' said the Fonthill resident, who has been using the new Mobi-Mat , a portable, non-slip, accessible 30-metre-long pathway that was laid down by Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority earlier this year. 'Allowing us to get closer (to the water) … makes a huge improvement.' Alicia Powell, NPCA manager of conservation areas and programs, said the accessible pathway is part of the authority's Nature for All vision. 'It's an accessible point of access to the beach for folks who are utilizing mobility devices, strollers, families with children that want to access the beach and the waterfront in a good way that they're not getting stuck in the sand,' said Powell, adding both NPCA conservation areas that have sandy beaches —Binbrook Conservation Area is the other — now have the Mobi-Mats. 'Research shows more and more that having access to nature improves not only your physical health, but mental and cognitive health and well-being as well,' said Powell, who added being close to water further enhances the outdoor experience. Kimberly Clark and her granddaughters, four-year-old Harper Nutley (in the stroller) and six-year-old Cainsley Nutley, on the recently installed Mobi-Mat at Chippawa Creek Conservation Area. The Mobi-Mat is made from recycled polyester often sourced from recycled plastic bottles and will be removed from the park during the off-season. TNPCA was able to purchase the mat thanks to a $7,000 donation to the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation from Port Colborne-based Jungbunzlauer Canada Inc . Nate Devos, park manager at Chippawa Creek Conservation Area, said the accessible pathway has been well-received. 'We do have a couple of people that have accessibility issues that have been making use of the mat as well,' Devos said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Los Angeles Times
27-06-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Orange County Coastkeeper teams up to award nearly $300,000 in beach accessibility grants
Orange County Coastkeeper works to protect and promote water resources in Southern California. The Costa Mesa-based nonprofit organization is now also making it easier for people to actually reach that water. O.C. Coastkeeper has teamed up with the California State Coastal Conservancy to award nearly $300,000 in new grants to help organizations purchase, maintain and promote beach accessibility equipment. The program is in its second year, said Genesee Ouyang, education director at Orange County Coastkeeper, which is overseeing an application process for the funds. Accessibility equipment includes items like beach wheelchairs, walkers, mats and kayaks. 'I'm just loving doing this whole thing,' Ouyang said. 'I've been talking about expanding our accessibility efforts since I started working at Coastkeeper, and the fact that this project came around was like destiny. It's really exciting, because this is definitely an issue that everyone agrees on. Literally, nobody that we've interacted with has been like, 'That's a dumb thing to fund.' Everyone is like, 'Wow, that's incredible, we need this.'' Since its launch in May 2024, the beach accessibility program has already distributed $100,000 in funds to six inclusive recreation projects across California. Crystal Cove Conservancy was among those to receive a grant. 'All of that funding was snapped up within one month,' Ouyang said. 'So, [the Coastal Conservancy was] like, 'OK, let's fund you with $100,000 more this time.' It's really, really exciting.' Applicants can ask for up to $30,000 of funding at a time, and the program is open to any organization in the state of California connected to waterways or the beach. Ouyang said the city of Newport Beach is among the second round of applicants, seeking to replace one of its beach wheelchairs, while the city of San Diego has applied for Mobi-Mats, roll-out mats that make traveling across soft sand easier. Garry Brown, founder and president of Orange County Coastkeeper, said that Coastkeeper views coastal access not as a luxury, but as a right that everyone should enjoy. 'For decades, we've fought to keep beaches clean, public and protected from threats,' Brown said in a statement. 'Now we're confronting another barrier: physical inaccessibility. Everyone should be able to experience California's coast, and we're proud to help make that a reality through this program.' Ouyang said there is about $75,000 accounted for in the second round of founding, meaning that more than $200,000 is still up for grabs. There is no deadline to apply; the funds are available until they run out. 'All of us could use this equipment one day, if we have the privilege of getting old and needing a beach wheelchair or a walker, or even just mothers with strollers using the beach mats to get all the way to the water,' Ouyang said. 'There's just so many types of people who can use this stuff.' To learn more about the beach and coast accessibility program or to apply for a grant, visit
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘PWC Beach,' Echo Bay pipe mat latest Lake Mead improvements for boaters
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Lake Mead is 8 feet lower than it was a year ago, and officials are making more adjustments to help boaters who are ready to get out in the water this summer. After adding a new courtesy dock for personal watercraft adjacent to Hemenway Harbor just two weeks ago, the National Park Service (NPS) said this week it is adding another pipe mat at Echo Bay, along with adjustments to the courtesy dock there. Hemenway Harbor, the closest launch point to Las Vegas, will have reduced access this summer as NPS extends the boat ramp. Construction began June 2, and the launch ramp will be reduced to one lane. The courtesy docks will be reduced down by one half, according to an NPS web page summarizing the project. 'Personal Watercraft Beach,' or PWC Beach, was announced around Memorial Day as the summer season began. It's just north of the Hemenway Harbor ramp. The Lake Mead National Recreation Area Facilities team installed two Mobi-Mats, one on each side of the new courtesy dock. The mats are portable, and have been used in recent years to help boaters with changing conditions at the lake. Some boaters have complained that they won't use PWC Beach because they don't want to drive through the dirt, but they won't have any other option nearby. 'All jet skis must launch at PWC Beach during construction,' according to a May 31 social post. Summer is the busiest time for boaters, but it's also the best time for construction, NPS said. 'Water level projections for the 2025 summer boating season are favorable for construction, allowing dive and contract teams to perform underwater and shoreline work safely and efficiently at the launch ramp. Summer and fall are generally the best times for this type of underwater construction work,' NPS said. As of noon Wednesday, Lake Mead's surface was at 1,056.59 feet, compared to 1,064.81 feet on June 15, 2024. While that drop is a bit alarming, it's better than projections last year that expected the lake to be down another 3 feet, at 1,053.56 feet. The lake typically hits its low point in July each year. On July 27, 2022, the lake hit its lowest point since it was filled in the 1930s, dipping to 1,041.71 feet above sea level. At Echo Bay, crews were scheduled to do the work on Wednesday, June 4, and finish before the end of the day. The upgrades will extend and widen the ramp for safer, easier boat launching, NPS said. Officials noted that the right launch lane remains closed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
