Accessibility Alert: New Access Mat on Venice Beach
Make sure you add a visit to Venice Beach to your summer plans this year! The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors installed a new mat on Venice that allows for people who have difficulty crossing the sand, the opportunity to get a close view of the whipping waves.
The mat is made of a fine nylon mesh that allows for the sand to fall through making it easier for wheelchair users to navigate on the path. We spoke with Public Information Officer, Nicole Mooradian, who says the semi-permanent mat is an honest effort to ensure everyone can visit the county’s iconic beach.
“We want everyone to be able to visit the beach. We don’t want you if you are in a wheelchair to have to either check out a beach wheelchair or get specialized equipment to be able to go down to the water.”
The 350 ft. access mat is located at 2100 Ocean Front Walk, where the Venice Boulevard beach parking lot is located. You will have full access the mat until Fall 2021 and annually thereafter spring thru fall. Although it is not a permanent solution, Mooradian stresses the need for more accessible options all year long.
“These are LA County beaches, these are our beaches, and it’s a shame when people can’t for whatever reason enjoy them when they want to.”
You can also find access mats at the following beaches:
- Dockweiler State Beach
- Manhattan Beach
- Marina “Mother’s” Beach
- Topanga Beach
- Torrance Beach
- Will Rogers State Beach
- Zuma Beach
For an interactive map of all access mat and beach wheelchair locations visit: beaches.lacounty.gov/access.
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