Special to the Times-Free Press
On Saturday, August 12, nearly 200 of people of all abilities gathered on Constitution Beach in East Boston for Triangle, Inc.’s annual Beach:Ability event. The annual event was made possible by a grant from Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s Better Beaches Program partnership with DCR and supported by DCR’s Universal Access Program. In addition to being a fun-filled day of food and games, Beach:Ability highlights the programs and materials, such as beach wheelchairs and mobility mats, that make Massachusetts’ urban beaches welcoming and accessible for everyone.
“It is so exciting to see this event grow very year, it emphasizes the importance of making all places and spaces accessible to everyone,” said Coleman Nee, CEO of Triangle Inc. “Beach:Ability highlights the incredible resources available at our state beaches that make it possible for people of all abilities to enjoy a trip to beaches across the Commonwealth.”
Participants kayaked with Piers Park Sailing Center and used floating beach wheelchairs to get out in the water. The day was filled with music and dancing was provided by Trike Called Funk.
“We’re always looking for ways to improve and make it easier for people with disabilities to enjoy our beautiful green and blue spaces,” said Representative Adrian Madaro, Co-Chair of the Metropolitan Beaches Commission. “Beach:Ability helps raise the profile of the materials and infrastructure we already have here in the Commonwealth, and it’s simply a joy to see everyone out enjoying the beach.”
“We couldn’t do events and programs like this without the sustained and generous support of our partners and funders, especially the Healey/Driscoll Administration and the Department of Conservation and Recreation.” said Save The Harbor/Save The Bay’s Executive Director Chris Mancini. “We’re so grateful, too for our incredible donors at Liberty Mutual Foundation, Coca-Cola Company, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Eastern Salt Company, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, JetBlue, John Hancock Financial Services, Massport, the Mass Cultural Council, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and the National Grid Foundation, and of course the hundreds of individual donors who support us every year.”
Mancini went on to acknowledge donors Alexandria, Amazon, Bay State Cruise Company, BXP – Atlantic Wharf, City of Boston Department of Youth Engagement and Employment, the Comcast Foundation, Constellation Generation, the Cronin Group, Hood Park, HYM Investment Group, Income Research and Management Charitable Trust, Leader Bank Pavilion/Live Nation, Massachusetts Bay Lines, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, National Development, Nutter, P & G Gillette, Pembroke Real Estate, Lawrence J. and Anne Rubenstein Charitable Foundation, RWE Clean Energy, William E. Schrafft & Bertha E. Schrafft Charitable Trust, Clinton H. & Wilma T. Shattuck Charitable Trust, and the Vertex Foundation.
The group also thanked the Boston Consulting Group, Copeland Family Foundation, Equinor, Lovett Woodsum Foundation, Mass Marine Trades Education Trust, Pabis Foundation, Rockland Trust, Ms. Wallace M. Leonard Foundation, and Vertex.
To learn more about Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and the great work they do to restore, protect and Share Boston Harbor, the waterfront, islands, and the region’s public beaches with all Bostonians and the region’s residents, visit their website at www.savetheharbor.org and follow @savetheharbor on social media.