Accessibility Improvements Made at Wright’s Pond

The city is making Wright’s Pond more accessible to those in wheelchairs and with mobility issues, according to Human Diversity Director Diane McLeod.

The first Mobi-Chair has debuted at Wright’s Pond to provide accessibility in the water for those in wheelchairs.

“This allows many individuals in wheelchairs to possiby experience the pond for the first time ever,” said McLeod.

According to McLeod, anyone in a wheelchair who wants to use the Mobi-Chair must have a responsible adult with him/her. The chair can be requested from Pond staff. The chair has wheel-stops in place so an individual can be placed safely into the chair and strapped in. The individual must be escorted by his/her companion into the water and the companion must remain with him/her at all times, said McLeod.

The city also has introduced a Pathmat at the Pond to make the sand more stable. The Pathmat is beach access matting that is a flexible sand surface reinforcement for pedestrians, wheelchairs, and individuals with mobility issues. The mat was rolled out in the beginning of the season and will be rolled up and stored at the end of the season.

Photos courtesy Diane McLeod.

– InsideMedford.com